Toronto: where to shop, what to see
As a Brit, I feel quite at home in Canada. The spellings are the same, and British-isms abound. Recently, I decided to explore my Canadian roots more by going to Toronto. Toronto is a strange mix...
Author: Victoria Aitken
Speeding through Montreal
I’m a quarter Canadian and have some wonderful cousins in Canada. I remembered my cousins when I found a bargain flight going to Montreal from L.A. - it turned into a a perfect excuse to see them....
Best of Europe: Berlin
I went to high school in Bavaria, so I speak fluent German. I had always wanted to live in Berlin, but have so far been unable to do due to job reasons. I try and visit my two best friends who live...
A crash course in getting ready for New Year’s Eve parties
First of all, if you are the sort of person who doesn’t have a safe fall back routine when getting ready for a party but tend to jump in at the deep end and dress in anything that looks OK two...
“Longford”: of prison reform and redemption
I saw "Longford" after I had lunch with the film's writer - the funny, talented, and charming Peter Morgan - a former actor with the sort of authoritative voice one finds intimidating at first blush,...
From supermodels to common folk: everyone must have “a passion for giving”
One day, having returned from a charity project in the Sahara desert, I was exhausted from the heat, barely recovered from a stomach bug, and found myself seriously appreciating New York’s rain....
The Hamptons: life’s a beach
As I stepped out from the bus with tinted windows and took a look around, I thought for a second I was a millionaire… Allow me to explain: My friend Robin Leacock invited me to spend the weekend in...
Montepulciano and the birthplace of the Renaissance
I recently stayed in Montepulciano, a town in southern Tuscany, famous for its “Nobile” wine. On the drive there, looking out the window, I was hypnotized by the harmonious landscape: there was...
Americans in Paris: a love rekindled
Picture courtesy of Liza Bishop & Kent Morris. Back in 2003, the love affair between France and America ended. To make matters worse, the "break-up" between the two countries happened on...
Medjugorje: fervent worship and booming business
The last time I came to Bosnia was in the middle of the Balkan War. My mother loves bargains and war zone holidays always are cheaper. In Bosnia, though, we were looking for something more profound...