France
Theft of The Mona Lisa
I was watching Sherlock Holmes ‘The Final Problem’ the other day, a classic tale which ends with the famed struggle at the Reichenbach falls. Anyway, the episode begins with Holmes securing the return of the Mona Lisa from the grasping Fagin-like hands of Moriarty. Although the story originally appeared in the Strand magazine in 1893 Read more…
7 Foods to Try Abroad, Regional Guides
A fellow Tour Director recently posted on Facebook that there was little better in life than enjoying an almond granita whilst in Sicily, something which is quite hard to argue with. This led me to asking other Tour Directors which foods they always want their groups to try while travelling in Europe. So, put these Read more…
Bastille Day in Paris
I remember being on a city tour in Paris once when the guide told the group, “do you know that we French don’t call it Bastille Day……we know it as July the 14th.” Despite the lack of title the 14th is, naturally, an important national holiday and recalls the day in 1790 when the first Read more…
Travel Interview with EF’s Sandy Kusano
It’s that time again to meet someone from EF and learn a little about their travel experiences. This month it is Sandy Kusano from Boston. Tell us about yourself – I started at EF as a Tour Consultant for Educational Tours in 2005. After a couple of years as a TC, I had the opportunity Read more…
Travel to Europe in June for Midsummer Celebrations
If you want to join in with something a little different from the normal EF tour day then hopefully you will bump into some of the following while touring Europe in June. Midsummer celebrations – Watching sunrise on the longest day at Stonehenge is quite the experience but not always the most practical to arrange. Read more…
EF Spotlight: Kate Berseth, Executive Vice President of Marketing
Kate Berseth is the Executive Vice President of Marketing at EF Education First and someone I first met when working in Boston back in 2001 (where she gave me great advice, ‘always have a plan’, I haven’t forgotten that). Anyway, Kate kindly agreed to take on our regular staff travel survey inspired by the UK’s Read more…
A Travel Interview With Paul Morin
I am returning to a favorite travel survey this week, taken from the UK’s Independent newspaper. Paul Morin has worked in the EF Boston office for nine years as well as being the international model for some fine lines of headwear. He is currently the Sales Director for North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Much Read more…
Exploring Montmartre in Paris
Montmartre was once a farming community with windmills looking over the city below. Today just two remain and only one of those is in use. There is a small active vineyard at the back of the hill, numerous artists and street entertainers, narrow cobble streets, charming cafes and a general atmosphere quite different from that Read more…
Top Photo Opportunities Around Europe
I have never taken too many photos on tour over the years. Despite the advent of digital technology in my touring years I remain someone who (surprisingly) trusts his memory when it comes to travel. However, none of this precludes me from giving some advice. So here are a few places off the top of Read more…
Electric Cars In Paris
Paris has often been first at doing some the sensible stuff, those of us who have lived in London have got used to this. It really is the simple things, an artificial beach alongside the river in summer months (Paris) versus nothing (London), plastic sacks for collecting trash (Paris) rather than no trash cans at Read more…
