Prague in 24 hours

Do you only have one day to spend in Prague? Don´t worry. This is your guide to an amazing 24 hours in romantic Prague. Enjoy!

08.00 Breakfast at the Four Seasons Prague

09.00 Take a slow walk over the 15th century Charles bridge with its 30 Baroque statues. Bring your camera. The view is so beautiful and romantic.

10.00 Enjoy the atmosphere in the beautiful old town of Prague. The power tower, the astronomical clock and the old town square is defintely worth a visit. And there is lots of nice shops around here.

12.00 Lunch-time... Have something light to eat at the Mandarin Oriental, wow, this hotel has a fantastic view & food!

13.30 Visit the magnificient Prague castle, which is supposed to be the largest ancient castle in the world. Here you also find some original manuscripts of Mozart is on dispaly.

15.00 Visit the Museum of communism and learn about a part of the country´s history.

16.00 Shopping time! Go to the Wenceslas Square for some serious shopping. If you prefer luxury labels such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and Hermes go to the Parizska street. Don´t miss to buy the Czech glass and art glass, it is famous and when you see it you will understand why.

19.00 Beer tasting? Go into the nearest pub and try the local beers. Czech republic is famous for its beers.
FS Prague recommended me the breweries: Kolkovna, Bredovsky Dvur, Olympia, Celnice, U Fleku, Pivovarsky dum, but I haven´t had the time to try them all... yet.

20.00 Enjoy an Italian/Mediterranean dinner at the Allegro, only Michelin-starred restaurant in Czech Republic.

Do you have any suggestions on more fab things to add to the schedule? Please leave a comment here.

Top lux hotels in Prague

• The Prague Mandarin Oriental is built on the site of a former 14th century monastery. The hotel has a fantastic location and a fab view of the city.
• Kempinski Hybernska Hotel is a luxury hotel which is built in a very impressive building, a baroque Palace „U Věžníků“.
• Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa is a lux hotel in another magnificent Baroque landmark, "Dům u Ježíška" dating from the 16th century.
• The Hotel Savoy is a charming and modern 5 star boutique hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Prague.
• Four Seasons Prague . Lux at it best!

Top restaurants in Prague
A friend of mine who visits Prague a lot also recommended me these nice restaurants: A really very good restaurant is Kampala Park, another good restaurant is in the Rocco Forte hotel and finally Cihelna a slightly more informal but good food restaurant.


PS. 24 hours in Prague is not so much. There are 12 UNESCO sites in Czech Republic, be aware that you will want to go back as soon as you left.

PS2. In winter time. Do not miss the cosy Christmas Market.

Paris in 24 hours

Only one day in Paris? Don´t get stressed. This is your guide to a fab 24 hours in Paris. Enjoy!

08.00 Breakfast at Coco Chanel´s favorite hotel, the Ritz Paris hotel. Coco lived here for many years and it is one if the most luxurious hotels in Paris.

09.00 Walk on the famous street Champs-Élysées, see the beautiful monument the Arc de Triomphe and take some pictures. It stands on the Place Charles de Gaulle and is the second largest triumphal arch in the world.

10.00 When in Paris, it is a must to see the MonaLisa painting at the Louvre museum.

11.30 Time for some shopping. An hour of intensive shopping at the Lafayette department store.

13.00 Rest your shoes (and wallet) and have a relaxed lunch in the lovely green garden of lux restaurant Laurent

15.00 Take a taxi to Montmarte, and ask the taxi driver to pass the Eifel tower on the way...
Visit Montmarte, this is a lovely part of Paris, which is an old art district.
Buy some art in the street and enjoy the atmosphere. Many famous painters worked here, such as Dalí, Monet, Picasso and van Gogh. You should also visit the beautiful church Basilica of the Sacré Cœur. It is definitely worth the walk up the hill.

17.00 Enough of exercise. Time for a class of wine tasting at the wine museum, Musee du vin.
The Wine Museum is housed in what used to be crude limestone quarries that were mined between the 13th and the 18th centuries to provide the dressed stoneused to build Paris.

19.30 A late dinner & cruise on the Seine River. You can book it through a tour operator.

23.00 Fab drinks and music at the Budda Bar. The bar looks out over the dining area where a gigantic Buddha sits on its throne. Don´t forget to buy the Buddha Bar cd before you leave so you can bring the feeling to your home.

Do you have any suggestions on more fab things to add to the schedule? Please leave a comment here.

Gastronomic Gothenburg

I have been in Gothenburg this weekend. What a lovely weekend! I am not there so often, should actually go there more often. Cause it is such a nice city.
As you maybe know, Gothenburg is Sweden´s second largest city. It is situated on the west coast by the sea with lovely sea view, restaurants, shops, theatre, opera & museums.

The top 10 things to do in Gothenburg is:

1. Linnea Art Restaurant. Book a table in the bistro and enjoy great food surrounded by lovely art glass. You can order the art glass from the waiter.

2. Boutique Tinna. Classic Svenskt Tenn interior decorations and art. They also have nice necklaces, earrings and watches. I bought a fab lilac watch here, which I adore! It is on Kungsgatan 56, close to NK shopping mall.

3. The restaurant Familjen (the Family). Great food at low prices. A great but not usual combination. It seems to be very crowded every night so y0u need to book a table in advance.

4. Go on a trip in the wheel. Go on a 360 degree trip in the sightseeing wheel and enjoy the view of Gothenburg from 60 m.

5. Wow what a place! Stay at the hotel Avalon. Swim in the pool on the roof and look down on the street, 50 meters down, through the glass floor in the pool. Scary or lovely? It is up to you... We had a nice lunch in the restaurant, the food and service were good.

6. Saluhallen. A fab food hall where you can stroll around and see all diferent food on sale.

7. Liseberg, the fun fair. Go there for a ride in the summer if you have kids or go there in the winter for their lovely and huge christmas market. They have performances with good artists on the stage in the summer and there is also a theatre.

8. Fiskekrogen. (the fish restaurant). This is the famous fish restaurant with top chefs and fresh fish and shell fish. A fish-lovers dream.

9. An evening at the opera is nice for those who loves music. The opera house plays both musicals and operas. Quite unusual.

10. Take a boat trip in the archipelago. Go to Brännö island and stay a night to get the feeling of the life in the archipelago. It is so beautiful and peaceful for your mind to see the sun set or sun down over the sea.

Relax in Riga

I visited Riga, the capital of Latvia, for a weekend in the summer.
It is a historial city with a lot of beautiful buildings and the largest city of the Baltic states.

Some call Riga the world capital of Art Nouveau and its historical city center is a UNESCO world heritage site.


Top ten things to do in Riga

1. Take a walk in the old town and admire the beautiful buildings.Take a picture of the Maingaivju (Blackheads) house and the house of Three Brothers, some medieval residential houses. Pass by Smilšu Street 2 and see the goddess figure. It is considered to be the most
   beautiful Art Nouveau sculpture of a woman in Riga.
2. Buy amber and traditional russian wooden dolls on the market in the old town
3. Visit the Latvian Museum Occupations and get some insight to the history
4. Visit the Riga Cathedral
5. Take a walk around the Riga Castle built in 1497 and check out the home of the President.
6. Have pancakes / crépes in the old town
7. Get a fab view of Riga from the tower in the St. Peters church or from the TV-tower.
8. See the Victory monument (a Soviet monument)
9. If you like Wagner visit the Wagner Concert Hall where he used to have concerts when he lived in Riga.
10. Visit the central market, a large food market to see the local food

If you are in to shopping, visit Stockmann, a department store in central Riga
And if you like opera, there is an opera house - The Latvia National Opera- with great prices and operas.
If you are a spa-lover take go to one of the Spas in Riga, maybe the ESPA Spa. Or take the short trip to Jurmala. A spa retreat by the sea. The hotel Jurmala spa looks nice.

Where to stay?

• Clarion Collection Hotel Valdemars
• Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel Riga
• Reval Hotel Ridzene
• Grand Palace Hotel
• De Rome Hotel

Where to eat?

• Fine dining at the Vincents
• Medieval dinner at Rozengrāls
• Finest meat at the Restaurant C.U.T.
• Fine dining at the Grand Palace Hotel restaurant

Colourful Cape Town

I went to Cape Town in South Africa for a weekend. My conclusion is that you can see a lot in Cape Town over a weekend. But it will be a busy weekend. Cape Town is such a beautiful place with a lot to see and do.

Extraordinary and unexpected view
I had a really nice breakfast at the SAS Radisson in the Waterfront. Suddenly the waiter came by and said - Look at the waves and pointed at the sea.

I looked and nodded. The view of the sea is nice. But then I thought, why are so many people gathering by the window with their cameras?

Then I realized, I heard wrong, he didnt say waves, he said whales... so I grabbed my camera and joined the crowd to get some pictures of the awesome view... whales in the sea, just outside the hotel.

1. Visit the Cape of good hope. It is totally stunning to see the two seas meet, and definitely worth the trip. It is about an hour from Cape Town. Take a picture of yourself in front of the famous sign. It is said that it is the most southern-western part you can visit of Africa.Bring your camera but watch out for the baboons on the way there. Their favourite hobby is to steel food from tourists...

2. I just loved to watch the pretty penguins on the beach. They are so sweet. Go to Simonstown to see the penguins on the way back from the Cape of Good hope. 

3. Back in Cape Town go for some wine tastings in the wine yards. Spier is very close to Cape Town and offers a range of wines.
   You can rent a car or take a tourist trip with a tourist company to the wine district. Short overview on: http://www.wineanorak.com/saregions.htm
   My favourite is Franschhoek. There are so many super nice hotels and restaurants here!!
   Vrede en Lust, Graham Beck, La Motte and Rupert & Rothschild, do I need to say more? Last time we visited Theleme wine yard. Lovely wine and after that we had a luxury lunch at the Delaire Graff Estate. Their suite hotel is gorgoeous with private pools.
4. Take a boat trip to Robben Island for a tour where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner and get to know more about the South African history. Robben Island was originally part of the mainland, the peak of an ancient mountain. Today it is an island and a World Heritage Site and museum
5. You should also take a tour to the township to get some more knowledge of the life that too many South Africans live today. Townships were created as living areas for non-whites under the old political system of Apartheid. But you cannot go there on your own. Book a guided tour through your hotel. And do not go there during nighttime.
6. If you need extra exercise take a hike up the Table Moutain and enjoy the fab view over Cape Town and the ocean. You can also go by the cableway. http://tablemountain.net/
   The trip with the cableway takes about five-minutes, but if you take a hike the 3 km could take between 1-3 hours.
7. The Aquarium could be nice for kids on a rainy day. http://www.aquarium.co.za/
8. If you need some light exercise go for shopping in the Waterfront area.
   The large shopping area by the sea is called Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and it is situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain.
   
   Where to shop...Some of my fav shops are:
   Cape Unions Mart Travel and Safari - Outdoor clothing for you safari trip
   CNA - papers and stuff
   Crabtree & Evelyn - cosmetic
   Edgars - clothes
   Exclusive books
   Woolworths, Truworths, Nine Weest - clothes and bags
   Out of Africa - fab souvenirs
   
   Where to eat
9. Breakfast is nice at Mugg and Bean
   Lunch at Ocean Basket, I just love their fresh fish or at Steers or Wang Thai.
   Have a nice dinner at Cape Town Fish Market and Sushi Bar. The large selection of sushi is going around in the restaurant on a conveyer belt or you can have some fab fresh fish for your main meal. The best place for grill and wine is the Belthazar. Amazing food! They also have the biggest wine bar in the world according to themselves. But save the dessert and go to the Haagen-Dazs for an icecream, yummy...
   
   Where to stay
10. Stay in with a great view of the sea in luxury at the Table bay hotel. Or in the cheaper but not cheap SAS Waterfront Cape Town. Or even cheaper at the Commodore hotel. The exclusive Delair Graff Estate is also an amazing for a night on the wine yard estate.

Best of Bratislava

Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic. It is a small and beautiful town by the Danube river.

Top 10 things to do in Bratislava
1. Stroll through the old town with its small shops, cosy resturants and cafes. Check out the art that local artists exhibit by the St. Michael's Gate.



2. Take a walk to the Bratislava Castle. Don´t miss the small souvenir shop with nice memories from the Slovak Republic.

3. Visit the St Martins cathedral where the Hungarian Emperors were crowned .

4. If you like opera or if you want to find out if you like opera, go for an opera evening in the old and historical opera house. Check out the not to modern furniture in the bar...

5. Take are tour at the National Gallery.

6. There is a lovely Christmas marketl in the Old Town during December. Buy cheap handmade sweet Christmas angels for all your friends. But it is freezing cold, so bring warm clothes.

7. Walk by the Danube river or take a cruise by boat on the Danube river to Vienna.
There are slow cruises or high speed ferry that takes about 1,5 hours to Vienna, the capital of Austria. From Vienna you can continue to Budapest, the capital of Hungary.

8. Take photos of the statues. There are a few statues in Bratislava old town that are quite unexpeced and unusal.

9. Enjoy the atmosphere and have a coffee and cake at the Kaffe Mayer. This café reminds me of the old coffee houses in Vienna.

10. If you are hungry and not afraid of heights go UFO. There is a restaurant with a fabulous view. It is called UFO and is located in the sky...on an observation deck on top of the Novy Most Bridge.

Where to stay
I have stayed at the Radisson SAS Carlton several times. A very fine hotel with a marvellous exterior, in the middle of the city centre. At one time I noticed that there were so many extremely tall men in the elevator and they spoke Swedish. When I reached the reception area I saw the sign: Conference room: Swedish hockey team
Oupps.
It was the Swedish National Hockey team....

Shopping centre
If you would like some serious shopping, go to the Avion shopping centre.

Where to eat?

• We had an excellent dinner at the Cuban restaurang Malecon. It is located by the Danube river. Try their great strawberry moijitos.
• Another evening we enjoyed mediterranean food at the fab Kogo restaurant.
• Or try the slovak food in Slovenska restauracia
• More restaurants on (but I havent tried all) http://www.bratislavaguide.info/bratislava-dining.html

Zambia - A Memory For Life

One of the best moments in my life was when I went on a weekend trip to Zambia. The aim of the trip was to visit the beautiful waterfalls Victoria Falls. Its local name is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means the Smoke that Thunders.

The Victoria Falls is claimed to be the largest waterfalls in the world. It is located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We stayed at the exclusive Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel in Zambia. Just staying at the luxury hotel was an amazing exeprience.
The hotel is located in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Wildlife Park on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, with a view of the Victoria Falls.

We had so many extraordinary experiences during the trip.

The animals...
A monkey stole my a sandwhich from my sons hand when we had lunch at the hotel. And there was a lot of zebras strolling around the hotel area.
There was a big sign in the hotel room: If a baboon enter the room, leave the room and call the reception.

We had a sun downer (drink) by the Zambezi river at the hotels sun deck in the sun down when I suddenly say something moving under the water.
But it was not a submarine. It was an elephant family walking under the water in the sun down. They walked under water with their trunks in the air like their were snorkeling. Totally amazing!

Zim
We also took a long hike to Zimbabwe and visited a street market in Zimbabwe. I bought some lovely wood pieces and wished I could have done more to help the people there. A couple of guys offered me a bungy jump from the bridge between Zim and Zambia but I didn´t dare to try.

The falls
and least but not last.
The amazing Victoria Falls. To see it, to hear it, to feel it.
I can´t really explain how amazing it was. You really have to go there to experience it yourself. Just check out this film to get an idea about how it is.

It was one of the best weekend trips I ever did. A true memory for life.

PS: Bring your golf clubs if you like golf. The Gary Player designed golf course Elephant Hill is around the corner from the falls.

Vivid Vienna

- The capital of cafés

Vienna is one of my favorite European capitals. I have been to Vienna about 30 times and still want to go back. There so much to see and do, beautiful palaces, luxury cafés, great shopping, museums, opera & restaurants. It is not so easy to pick the top things to do as there is so much to choose from but here are some of my favourites.

Top 10 things to do in Vienna
Visit Hofburg Royal Palace, the former imperial residence in Vienna. It was the royal residence for over 600 years. It consists of 22 muesums today, 240,000 m², 18 wings, 19 courtyards and 2,600 rooms. It is a beautiful palace.

The St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche) is a baroque church from 1701. It was inspired by the St. Peter's Basilica of the Vatican in Rome. It is in the very city centre of Vienna.
When you finsished your visit to the St. Peter's Church you should go to the beautiful cathedral Stephansdom. If you need some exercise, skip the gym and take the 343 steps to the tower of the Stephansdome.

Now it is time to spend a few hours in the main shopping district situated around the Stephansdom.

If you want to have a quick lunch try Sushi. There are nice Sushi restuarants everywhere.

If you prefer a luxury relaxed lunch in a garden. Have a lunch in the garden of Steirereck im Stadtpark (in the city park). It is a Relais & Chateaux Restaurant . The “Steirereck” in Vienna is located in the heart of the central "city park", close to the famous Johann Strauss statue.
If you´re a foodie who loves cheese. Don´t miss the milk bar in the basement with 120 cheeses from 13 countries.

After lunch it is time for some culture. Bank Austria Kunstforum has marvellous exhibitions. I always try to stop by here when in Vienna.

The capital of cafés? I have read that no other city in the world can rival Vienna in terms of the number of historically significant coffee houses.
You should try atleast one of them. I like the Sacher café, Café Landtmann, Café Imperial, Café Mozart and Café Ministerium.

When tired of walking, go with the Tram (public transport) for a sightseeing tour in Vienna. The Vienna Ring-Tram, has a yellow Tram which takes visitors on a tour of the most beautiful parts of the city.

In the summer, you should go for a swim at Schönbrunn, another former royal palace. The beautiful Schönbrunn palace in Vienna is built in Rococo style in a magnificent park. It has a hotel, the world´s oldest zoo and a public pool.

I just love opera so an evening at the opera house is a must for me. It is a gorgeous building so visit it even if you don´t like opera.

A dinner is nice at the fine-dining DO & CO restaurant with a great view of the Stephansdome.

Stay at the Palace, Palais Coburg Residenz, also known as Palais Saxe-Coburg. A prince built this impressive palace which today is a beautiful hotel and restaurant.

Another nice hotel is the SAS Palais, address: Parkring 16. Not so fancy as the palace Coburg, but great location.

Blooming Budapest

Top 10 things to do in Budapest

The first time I was in Budapest I was amazed by all the beautiful buildings. I was walking in Budapest and stopped by a beautiful building and asked what it was. The answer was the Hungarian post office. Hmm... well the post office where I live is not half so beautiful. The conclusion was the the Hungarian Post Office was better looking than my city´s castle... So if you like beautiful buildings, art, culture, opera, spa, shopping and nice food - Budapest is the place to go.

Stay at the hotel Hilton West End if you like shopping. It is located in the huge shopping complex in the city centre. So there is no excuse not to check it out. Because it is important to know all the fire escape routes in case of a fire ;-)
Buy some cheap and sweet marzipan figures which is sold in the supermarket on the lowest floor in the shopping centre. Another Hungarian specialty to buy is the lovely sweet white wine Tokaji and the Hungarian sausages.
If you want more shopping go to the main shopping street Vaci ut.

The best place to stay is the Four Seasons hotel Gresham Palace. It is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Central Europe. The hotel has a great location by the Danube river with a view of the Chain Bridge and Buda calste.

Some other nice luxury hotels in Budapest city centre are:
Corinthia Hotel Budapest with a luxurious spa
Hotel Kempinski
Le Meridien

Sightseeing

1. A boat sightseeing on Donau is a must. Lovely trip and great for those who like to take a lot of photographs on their holiday, just like me. Book your trip at Legenda, Hotell Marriott, Vigadó tér Pier No. 6-7. Phone no: +36 - 1 266 41 90.
2. A tour in the Parliament is recommended. The parliament is so beautiful! Go on a tour and see the the Crown, Sword and Globus Cruciger of Hungary. It belonged to the former Hungarian Royal Family.
3. The Buda castle is another must-visit-place. Take a walk there if you like/need exercise and dont forget to visit the Budapest museum inside the castle. Magyar Nemzeti Galéria is an art museum in the former royal castle hosts a large exhibition of Hungarian art.
4. Szoborpark Múzeum (Sculpture park museum) displays a large collection of sculptures and statues from the city during the communist era.
5. Heroes’ Square (Hösök tere) was established for the world expo in Budapest in 1896. It has statues of historical persons of importance to Hungary´s history.
6. Szent István-bazilika, Stefan basilica, is named after the first Hungarian king and should be on your sightseeing program .
7. Szépmûvészeti Múzeum is a large art museum in Budapest often with international exihibitions of famous painters as Monet and Van Gogh.
8. Take a relaxing walk on the Margaret Island in the city centre is a lovely island with huge park and nice restaurants.
9. There are many famous spa and bathes in Budapest. Maybe a visit to the Spa at Hotell Gellert to relax after the sightseeting and shopping?
10. I just love the opera house in Budapest. I been there several times and I have heard that even Puccini has visited the opera house. Book tickets by phone or ask you hotel reception to help you. The tickets are really cheap if you compare to some other opera houses like in Austria or Italy.

Where to eat?

• The restaurant Robinson Étterem is one of my favourite restaurants,.
• Another favourite is restaurant Gundel, establisehd in 1894. It is oldfashion and very famous, so reserve your table in advance. I am not sure but I heard that even the Pope visited the place.
• Restaurant Apostolok is 100 hundred years old with a unique interior and handmade furniture.
• Restaurant Articsóka is combining food and culture. They serve lovely Medditarian food and atmosphere with performances of Hungarian artists.
• A nice cafe for a cup of coffe or a light lunch is Cafe Kör.
• If you like sportsbars you should try the sportsbar and restaurant BoxUTCA

The Unesco World heritage sites of Budapest

• Hollókő
• Budapest
• Pannonhalma
• Hortobágy
• Pécs
• Tokaj
• Aggtelek
• Lake Fertő
• Andrássy Avenue
• Castle district
• Danube embankment

Read more on http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/400 and http://www.budpocketguide.com/sights_sounds/world_heritage.asp

Best of Bangkok

If you are not afraid of heights. You should try the Sirocco Restaurant in Bangkok. I got a bit sea sick when I felt the building moving, but the view was marvellous! Check out the photos of the restaurant.

I liked the Vertigo Restaurant, Banyan Tree Hotel, even better. It is a top roof restuarant as well but I did not get sea sick and the view and the food was great.

The hotel Mandarin Oriental has been voted the best hotel in the world.
Stay there and enjoy a lovely view of the river. Or at least have lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants just to feel the atmosphere. If you like jazz be sure to visit the Bambo bar for live jazz in a junglelike place.

The most romantic evening was the dinner on the Horizon Cruise. It is a boat which is operated by the Shangri-la hotel. We had lovely Asian food on the Chao Phraya River in the middle of Bangkok. I was stunned by the friendly and service-minded staff at the hotel.

When in Bangkok, you must go to the Grand Palace for a visit. It is a complex of buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. It served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand. It was built in 1782. It is a beautiful palace, do not forget your camera.

Bangkok is also a lot about shopping. There are so many shopping malls and markets that I did not know where to begin... But I can recommend the Central World Shopping Complex and The Emporium Bangkok.
But the best bargains is made on the markets on the streets.

If you have time do take trip on the river during daytime. Watch the houses, the floating shops and get a bit closer to the life in Bangkok.
Maybe even visit the floating market?

And yes, We went to a Thai cultural show. It was nice, a bit of a tourist trap, but fun to watch.

Beautiful Brussels

Time to take a minibreak or a weekendtrip? Go to Brussels...I was in Brussels on a business trip a few years ago. And I can really understand why the European Union chose Brussels for their head quarters. It is a lovely city with so many beautiful buildings and landmarks.

Where to stay? I can recommend Hotel Leopold, Rue du Luxembourg 35, which has an excellent location and great food. Close to the EU buildings and the shopping.



Top 10 things to do in Brussels:

1. Beer is a specialty in Belgium. Take the chance and participate in a beer and cheese tasting at A la Bécasse. I do not like beer a lot but it was interesting to taste different types and feel the atmosphere in a la Bécasse.
2. Have a lovely dinner att restaurant Aux Armes de Bruxelles
3. Be a true EUropean and visit the EU head quarters and the parliament at Espace Léopold
4. See the Atomium. It was the icon of the world fair in 1958. And it is still beautiful and stunning.
5. Buy choclate at Neuhaus is a must. The first Neuhaus shop opened in Brussels in 1857. And it is still there. Try their chocolate and you will understand why.Mums as we say in Sweden.
6. Go on sightseeing. Brussels has so many magnificent buildings, much thanks to King Leopold II. Do not forget to bring your camera...
   Some favorites I discovered during my short trip was:
7. The city hall
8. The royal palace
9. The colourful grand palace
10. The charming chinese pavillion

Two nice restaurants I can recommend.
- Fabulous Italian food at the Osteria La Bolognese.
Address: Rue de la Paix 4.
The best Italian starter I ever tasted. http://www.osteriabolognese.be
- Great mediterranean food at the El Turco restaurant.  http://elturco.be
Address: Rue Du Trone, 73, Place De Londres, 6

Marvellous Swedish Opera singer Malena Ernman gave me these recommendations for nice restaurants in Brussels:
Restaurants: Try st Catherine / Vlamse stenweg area. Or sablon. Nice coffee / lunch/ bar is le roi des belges on St Gery.
For drinks:l' archeduc (?) on rue antoine dansaert. Near Bourse . Rumour has it their piano use to belong to J Brel... Ring the doorbell!!
After my trip to Belgium I was told there is a chocolate museum in Brussels. So for all chocolate fans, don´t miss the Belgium Chocolate Museum in the city centre.

Sassy Stockholm

Stockholm is my favourite city in Sweden.

Top 10 things to do in Stockholm

1. Millesgården. I was totally stunned when I saw all the beautiful statues. (visit only when the weather is nice)


2. Kaknästornet. The best view over Stockholm. Bring your camera to the 155 meter high tv-tower.


3. The royal castle. Go on sightseeing and buy royal tea in the royal shop.


4. The Absolut Ice Bar. Freezing but nice to have a drink in a glass made of ice (book in advance)


5. NK. The best department store, not to miss!


6. Boat sightseeing with lunch in the archipelago is nice in the summer


7. Liljevalchs, art museum with interesting exhibitions


8. Fika (have a coffe and cake) at Vetekatten. A small cosy bakery decorated as an old Swedish home


9. The old town with tourist shops and beautiful old houses
10. Chokladfabriken (The chocolate factory) is a great place for chocolate lovers. They have three shops in Stockholm. One of them is at Regeringsgatan, close to NK.

Resturants

• Lydmar, the restaurant at the design hotel Lydmar is great. Have a drink outside in the summer and enjoy the view of the royal castle before your dinner. A moijoto for starter and their great for guarantees a great evening. It is located at Blaiseholmen next to the Grand Hotel.


• Ciao Ciao due. Have an Italian pasta and great pizza at this cosy restaurant in Östermalm. Not so cheap but great food. A place to bring the family for a meal.


• Kol o koks is a small italian restuarant in the city centre. A perfect place for a romantic dinner.


• Sonjas Grek has the best greek food I have had outside Grecce! One of my childhood friends who lives in Stockholm recommended me this place and I just love there food.


• Forno Romana at Odengatan, serves tasty pasta and pizza at this pizzeria in Vasastan. Nice prices!


• Östermalmshallen. It opened in 1888. Eat here or buy food to cook your own meal at home. Only open during day time.


• B.A.R. If you like fish and shellfish. This is the place! Book a table in advance. It is located at Blaiseholmen close to grand hotel.


• Sakura is nice for Japanse food. It you are about 10 peope or so, book their karaoke room and sing along.
  
• Fjärderholmarna. Have lunch or dinner in the archipelago and enjoy the view of the ocean and islands in the summer.


• Grand Hotel. Try the Swedish specialty Smörgåsbord, an exclusive buffet with great Swedish food

Stockholm for kids

Check out the mooses at the Skansen openair museum and zoo. Have a fairytale trip through Astrid Lindgren stories at the museum Junibacken. It is easy to have fun at the Gröna Lund fun fair. All these three attractions are within walking distance from eachother.

Lovely London

10 top things to do in London?


One of my favourite places on earth is London in the United Kingdom.
Ett av mina favoritställen är helt klart London i Storbritannien.
It has everything for a great weekend; fantastic museums, thousands of shops, nice restaurants and a lot to do.

My must-visit-museums are:
The National Gallery. The paintings are so beautiful that I totally forgot about the shops outside. Check out Monet´s beuatiful painting "The Water-Lily Pond"
But ok, I bought a lot of things in the museum shop so it was not a totally shopping free experience. Other great museums are the Tate gallery and Tate modern.

10 top things to see and do:

1. Visit St Pauls cathedral
2. Buckingham palace
3. Take a trip - maybe a champange flight? - on the London eye.
4. Tower Bridge
5. Westminster Abbey
6. Cruise the river Thames
7. Hyde park
8. Trafalgar Square
9. Visit museums, see below
10. See a musical. I have seen the Mamma Mia Musical twice and it was still great the second time.

and of course: shop till you drop; Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent garden etc etc

6 supernice restaurants to dine at:

1. This is the place to have a romantic dinner with a view over London. Dine at the Oxo Tower
2. Listen to the lovely opera performance while dining a mediterrian dinner at the Sarastro opera restaurant.
3. We had a business dinner at London oldest restaurant. And it was fab! Visit Rules for a memorable evening.
4. The food was ok and it was interesting to visit Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre. The brasserie also had a magnificent view of the river.
5. Lunch at Harrods Sea Grill is a must when I am in London. Fantastic fish and a glass of wine. Life is good at the Sea Grill!
6. Duck and Waffle on the 40th floor with a gorgeous view of London. Heron Tower. 

Too expensive to stay...... but visit them for an Afternoon tea or a cocktail just to feel the atmosphere!
I had a coctail at the Lanesborough and wished I was staying there. And I tried to get in for an Afternoon tea at the Ritz hotel but was stopped by the doorman because we had not booked a table. And he said, even if you had booked at table, I would not have let you in... because we wear sneakers. So to summarize: book in advance and wear fab clothes but do not wear sneakers.
I can recommend the Radisson Edwardian hotel Berkshire. It is quite expensive but the location and their moijitos are perfect. Its is next to Oxford street and I have stayed there several times.
Or if you want a five star chic luxury alternative choose The Berkely in Knightsbridge. It has a roof top pool and the Blue bar turns into a chich nightspot in the evening. (book a table in advance) The hotel claims that the Blue Bar is Madonnas favourite but I did not see her there when I stayed there.

Where to shop?

1. Harrods is a must to visit
2. I just love Liberty. Take a stroll, check out all the nice things inside the shop.
3. Check out the bags and get a free make-up at Harvey Nichols
4. Extremely cheap clothes and stuff at the huge shop Primark. Go there early if your hotel is nearby so you don´t have to carry 10 heavy shoppings bags for a whole day.
5. Visit all the sport shops; the Adidas shop, Nike store, etc etc. and you will feel sporty for a long time after.

Pure pyramids in Egypt!

• 
  10 top things to do in Egypt?
  
  A visit to Egypt should include both a visit to Cairo and to the beach in Sharm el Sheik. I liked Cairo best but we went there off season so it wasn’t so warm in the sea. Maybe that’s why I liked Cairo more. I will tell you abou the Cairo hotels, Cairo sightseeing, Cairo shopping etc. that I found to be on the top list!
  
  Ett besök i Egypten måste innehålla både Kairo och kusten vid Sharm el Sheik. Jag tyckte bäst om Kairo men det var inte så varmt i vattnet när vi var där. Kanske var därför jag gillade Kairo mer. Här berättar jag mer om fina lyxhotell och restauranger i Kairo, sightseeing i Kairo, pyramiderna, shopping i Kairo som jag tycker platsar på topplistan!
  
  In Cairo there are plenty of things on the must-to-do-list… I chosen the major three things… sightseeing, dining on or by the Nile and shopping. Surprised?

1. Sightseeing

• The Pyramids of course. You can also go inside for a visit if you want. It is very close to the town so just grab a taxi and go there.
• When you are there. Also visit the area where the The Sfinx is.
• The Eyptian Museum. Don’t take pictures here. I did and it wasn’t popular at all.
• The Cairo Tower. It has a restaurant on the top and the view is supposed to be great. I didn’t have the time to visit but it seems nice. Bring your camera and take pictures of the panorama views.
  
  2. The Nile
  
• Have lunch or dinner at restaurant Ramses Hilton by the Nile. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Nile and the Pyramids from the 36th-floor
• A dinner cruise on the Nile is a fantastic experience. The one we went on is operated by the luxury Oberoi hotel with great food and a nice dance performance and band.
  
  3. Shopping
  
• Go to the hotel Intercontinental City Stars. Have an early dinner and go next doors. There is a huge shopping mall. It is open very late and there is a lot to see and shop. It felt a bit strange to pass the safety guards and checks to go in to a shopping mall but I guess it is the way it is here.
• You have to visit the Khan al-Khalili, it is a medieval souk with bargains for everyone. Make and blend your own perfume here, it is a great gift to take home.

Cool Copenhagen

10 top things to do in Copenhagen?
I visited Copenhagen, Denmark last week. Copenhagen is a lovely city with loads of great shops, restaurants and museums.
Where to stay in Copenhagen? Hotel The square has a perfect location in the middle of the centre.
Enjoyed the Arne Jacobsen design hotel Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Turned on the ipod and sat in the coolest chairs ever in the lobby. Drinks on the top of the house... at the 20th floor with a fantastic view of Copenhagen at the Radisson hotel.
A drink or lunch at Restaurant Puk is a must after a day of shopping. Design viewing & shopping at Illum is nice but do try shopping on street Vandkunsten and the streets around. It is much better! I just love the small shops around here!
On Copenhagen on a Friday? Don´t miss the great Rock conserts at the Fun park Tivoli. Spent the afternoon at fun park TiIvoli. Watch out for the scary airplane and screaming people!!! (maximum speed 100 km/h, 360 degree turn). OK I admit. I didnt dare to try...
Lunch at restaurant Ida Davidsen (only open on weekdays, make reservation) is something special. Super shopping on the street Ströget and a cosy dinner at smoky restaurant Skindbuksen (reservation is needed)
Boatsightseeing followed by lunch on the sqare. Danish classic food (smorrebrod) in restaurant Nytorv. We had a lovely dinner at the Sankt Gertruds kloster (the St Gertruds convent).
If you like art, like me, don´t miss the art museum Glypoteket. The museum Louisiana is also one of my favorites, but it is outside Copenhagen and you need a car to get there. But if you go there, stop by at the Karen Blixen house and museum on the way.

The best restaurant in Copenhagen is Noma, it has been named the world´s best restaurant. Reserve in advance to experience extraordinary Nordic gourmet cuisine at its best. Read the review in the Telegraph UK.

Other cool design hotels in Denmark are:

•  Hotel Fox. Each room is different. Choose among rooms with comical styles, graphic design, street art, fairytales and Japanese Manga to mention some.
• Hotel FRONT with stylish sophisticated design. It is on the Condé Nast Traveller's 2007 Hot List.
• Hotel Nimb with the aim to place the hotel in the absolute world-elite of small, luxury city hotels. Placed in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. The design of the exterior of the hotel reminds me of Taj Mahal.
• Hotel Skt. Petri is one of Copenhagen's leading design hotels.