Izamal, in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my bucket list.

Izamal, was founded almost 2,000 years ago by the Maya people. Named for Itzam Na, a Maya god of healing and resurrection, it means “dew that falls from the heavens.”

As you can see from the above photo, most of the buildings in the downtown are painted this radiant yellow color. Some say it started as a way to honor the Maya sun god. A more practical theory suggests it’s because the color repels mosquitoes. The truth is… no one really knows how or why this happened.

Things to see in Izamal: 

* The bright yellow downtown architecture, of course. Not surprisingly, Izamal is known as la Ciudad Amarilla (the Yellow City).

* Convento de San Antonio de Padua, a 16th century monastery and church. Originally used to convert the Maya people to Catholicism, it is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Americas.

* Kinich Kakmó Pyramid, one of many Maya ruins in and around Izamal. This one – the largest – is right in the center of the town.

* Centro Cultural y Artesanal, a 16th century mansion that is now a museum.

* Mercado Municipal de Izamal, the local market.

I’ve been to Munich and Vienna several times. I never thought of visiting Salzburg, but K and I did just that several years ago and enjoyed it very much. It is a World Heritage Site, offering all that you’d expect from one: narrow cobblestone streets, baroque architecture, elaborate palaces, and medieval churches.

A highlight for me was visiting the birthplace of Mozart, my favorite classical composer. We also enjoyed a tour of the filming locations for “The Sound of Music.”

Interesting fact: Maria and the von Trapps were real people. And they really did live in the Villa Trapp, which now operates as a kind of B&B for visitors to Salzburg. It is not nearly as grand, however, as the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron, the property used in the film

Tallinn’s Old Town, Estonia

Tallinn – Estonia’s capital – came to prominence in the 13th century as an important trading center for the merchant guilds and market towns in Germany and northern Europe. The city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a picturesque mix of Gothic spires, medieval architecture, and cobblestoned streets lined with ornate churches and showy mansions built by wealthy merchants.

What to see: 

* Raeapteek, Europe’s oldest continuously operating pharmacy, which dates back to 1422. You can still purchase klaret there, a “curative” wine (14% alcohol) that’s been produced in the pharmacy since 1467.

* The Christmas market in the Old Town Hall Square, among the continent’s most beautiful.

* The onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Oozing Russian Orthodox opulence, it was completed in 1900 when Estonia was still part of the Russian Empire.

* The imposing Toompea Castle, home to Estonia’s parliament. Erected on the foundations of a crumbling fortress built on this site in the13th century, it has been the seat of power throughout the country’s history.

* Kadriorg Palace, built by Tsar Peter I in 1718 for his wife, Catherine I. The palace currently houses the Kadriorg Art Museum, a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia.

Glasgow was never on my bucket list, but I’m glad I got to see it. And I’d be happy to go back. It has all the charm of any of the smaller English cities, with some extras you won’t find down south.

If you go, be sure to spend time on Buchanan Street. It’s famous for its well-preserved 19th-century architecture. And it’s the city’s premier place to go shopping, replete with quaint boutiques, small art galleries, and specialty stores of every kind. Even if you are not in the mood for shopping, you’ll be well entertained by the usual street performers: jugglers, magicians, mimes, and musicians.

A few highlights:

* St. George’s-Tron Church, opened in 1808. Gothic with baroque influences, it is the oldest building in the area.

* Argyll Arcade, opened in 1827, is the oldest Victorian shopping center in Britain.

* Old Athenaeum Theatre, established in 1893, is an unusual fusion of Scots Baronial, Indian, and European Art Nouveau styles.

* Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, designed by the modernist architect Sir Leslie Martin and opened in 1990, is the home of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Flamenco! Bullfights! Gypsies!

Seville, the capital and largest city of Andalusia, is rich in culture and history. It’s the setting for Bizet’s Carmen – and, though the story is fictional, there are references in the opera to many of the city’s landmarks. Click here to read an article that takes you through them. [LINK] https://tammytourguide.wordpress.com/2017/04/22/looking-for-carmen-in-seville/

I’m especially interested in Seville’s architecture – from ancient Roman rujns to spectacular Moorish, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Mudejár (a blend of Moorish/Arabian and Gothic influences) and Neo-Classical structures.

A few of the architectural “must-sees”: 

* Real Alcázar (Royal Palace), built as a fortress in the 10th century, was expanded and embellished by subsequent Moorish rulers. It is still in use by the Spanish king when he visits Seville.

* Catedral de Santa María de Sede, constructed between 1402 and 1506 on the site of a 12th century mosque, is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world.

* La Giralda, the 300-foot-tall bell-tower next to the cathedral, was the minaret of the above-mentioned mosque. You can climb to the top for a spectacular panoramic view.

* Barrio de Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter, is a maze of narrow streets, alleys, and (admittedly touristy) tapas bars and shops to explore.

* Casa de Pilatos, a 16th century palace – a mix of Renaissance and Mudejár styles – gives you an idea of how the Spanish aristocrats used to live.

* Plaza de Toros houses the largest bullfighting arena in Spain (it can accommodate 13,000 spectators) and the Museo Taurino (Bullfighting Museum).

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I had a very nice dinner there, along with a group of colleagues, at a company get-together in Dubai in June 2019.

The Burj Al Arab is a wonder of the modern world. Sitting atop a man-made island off the city’s beautiful shoreline, it became the tallest solo-use hotel in the world when it was built in 1994. It’s also one of the most luxurious hotels on the planet, with a magnificent terrace that overlooks a private beach, a world-class spa, and a private helipad for jet-setting clientele.

I didn’t stay there, but I read that each suite is outfitted with a private butler and Hermès bath products. The rack rate for such a suite is $1,500 per night. Or you can rent the Royal Suite for $24,000 nightly.

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice

K and I have spent several memorable afternoons in Venice at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Less well known than MOMA in New York, the Tate in London, and Centre Pompidou in Paris, it is arguably one of the most important museums of 20th century European and American art.

It is located in Peggy Guggenheim’s former home, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the Grand Canal.

When you are in the museum, inundated with so many fantastic pieces by the world’s greatest modern artists, it is hard to imagine that this was Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection. And besides her fabulous collection, the museum offers masterpieces from other collections. And a sculpture garden. And regular temporary exhibitions.

Some highlights of the core collection: 

* “The Red Tower” (De Chirico)

* “The Clarinet” (Braque)

* “Study of a Nude” and “Men in the City” (Leger)

* “Very Rare Picture on the Earth” (Picabia)

* “Birth of Liquid Desires” (Dali)

* “Bird in Space” (Brancusi)

* “The Kiss” (Ernst)

* “Woman Walking” (Giacometti)

* “Landscape with Red Spots” (Kandinsky)

* “Magic Garden” (Klee)

* “Empire of Light” (Magritte)

* “Composition No. 1” (Mondrian)

* “Arc of Petals” (Calder)

* “The Moon Woman” (Pollock)

I came across this photo of Cape May, New Jersey. This was not my image of the Jersey shore. I’ve never been Cape May, but it sparked a desire to see it.

Cape May bills itself as “the nation’s oldest seaside resort.” I did some googling and, indeed, it looks to be a town built of gingerbread-trimmed Victorian buildings. A weekend there will “bring you back to vacations of yesteryear,” the advertising says.

I’m willing to believe that. When I get there, I’ll be looking forward to enjoying…

* Walking along the beachfront promenade

* Passing by the brightly painted seaside houses with rocking-chair-lined porches

* Sightseeing in Cape May Harbor

* Window shopping in the boutiques and galleries along Washington Street Mall

Chateau Marmont is one of our favorite hotels when we’re in LA. It’s well located and provides for a bit of vintage Hollywood charm. The building is stately, large, and beautiful, hidden from the hoi polloi mucking about Sunset Boulevard by a large hedge.

What We Like About Chateau Marmont 

* Location: It’s in the center of old Hollywood.

* Design: The outside is a gothic castle; the interior décor is retro 40s.

* The bar: Classic cocktails and Humphrey-Bogart ambiance.

* The lobby: Quaint, lush, welcoming.

* The rooms: Spacious, with good views of the boulevard.

* The service: Professional and deferential.

What We Don’t Like 

I can’t think of anything.

The family and I spent some time touring the northern environs of England several years ago. There were lots of interesting and memorable things to see. One of our favorite cities was York, a charming town of winding cobbled streets, a magnificent cathedral, classic shop fronts, and dramatic stone walls surrounding the city. (I’ve read that it is the best-preserved walled city in the country.)

Originally established as a military settlement by the Romans in the first century, York had walls erected around the fort and surrounding village in order to keep out intruders. These fortifications formed the basic footprint of the walls that still stand today, most of which were built between the 12th and 14th centuries.

What We Liked About York  

* Walking the city walls

* Visiting the Castle Museum

* Climbing Clifford’s Tower

* Being awed by York Minster cathedral

* Learning about the Viking life at Jorvik Viking Centre

* Checking out the National Railway Museum

* Window shopping along the Shambles