Markets are a wonderful place to experience the local flavor. Valencia’s Central Market was no exception. Above us rose an enormous stained-glass dome supported by intricate ironwork, flooding the market with natural light. The building itself is a masterpiece of…
No visit to Lisbon’s historic Belém district feels complete without a stop at Pastéis de Belém. Belém is just outside Lisbon and very much worth the visit. The bakery, founded in 1837, continues to produce its legendary custard tarts from…
A moving moment of our time in Tokyo came not amid the neon lights of Shibuya or the crowds of Asakusa, but in the quiet grounds of the gravesite of the Forty-Seven Ronin at Sengaku-ji Temple. The story is one of…
Before arriving in Tokyo, I knew Gonpachi had a reputation that extended well beyond its food. For movie fans, it is often called “the Kill Bill restaurant,” the inspiration for the legendary House of Blue Leaves sequence where The Bride…
Tokyo is a city filled with remarkable restaurants, but every so often you encounter a dining experience that leaves a lasting impression. Our evening at Sushi Shin by Miyakawa was one of those occasions. It was a great introduction to…
Our first day in Tokyo led us to one of its most iconic sights—the magnificent Hōzōmon Gate at Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa. If there is a place that instantly says “Welcome to Tokyo,” this is it. As we approached the…
