Imagine you are a Turkish soldier in the year 1552. You and 40,000 of your fellow warriors have been marauding across Europe, gleefully sacking towns and declaring victory for the Ottoman Empire. When you reach the gates of Eger, Hungary, you are expecting another easy win. Your large force lays siege to a castle defended […]
City Guide
The Royal Palace of Godollo, Hungary
Although Hungary is now a democratic republic, that hasn’t always been the case. The Austrian Hapsburg Monarchy controlled parts of Hungary from the 16th century until the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I. During the 18th century, Count Antal Grassalkovich, an influential Hungarian nobleman and confidant of Empress Maria Theresa, […]
My Perfect NYC Weekend
Having lived in Manhattan for five years, my returns to the city are more of a homecoming than a tourist holiday, a time to catch up with friends and revisit favorite old haunts. These always-too-short weekends are filled with conversations that linger over delicious meals and long meandering walks that hardly ever end at the […]
A Brief Introduction to Mahjong
I recently had the pleasure of attending an introductory class in mahjong, the popular Chinese tile game. One lesson definitely doesn’t make me an expert – I still have a lot more to learn about the complex game some liken to rummy – but it was a fun experience I’d like to share. Although the […]
Hong Kong Museum of History: Where the Past Comes to Life
The Hong Kong Museum of History is not your average museum. You won’t find rooms full of religious artifacts or ancient pottery shards. Instead, Hong Kong’s colorful past is brought to life with realistic models that you can look at from all sides and even walk through. The Hong Kong Story, the museum’s permanent exhibition, […]