discover the most characteristic food shops in Rome in autumn by bicycle

This place is special to me because I had the privilege of living and studying here for two months in 2013. It was nothing short of magical! Every day felt like I was stepping into a fairy tale, and there were always new nooks and details to discover of this charming medieval castle town.

This place is special to me because… it’s an outstanding beautiful place. Sintra is full of extravagant palaces, romantic gardens and parks, beautiful castles. Here we find nature, trees, culture, peace. Amazing place to go for a walk or hiking. And to look for inspiration!

This place is special to me because it makes me smile... I was lucky to spend part of my young life in Rome, Italy. Through High School, my best friend Bibi and I would walk to school together wandering through the splendor of the Roman Forum, taking small paths though the ruins. Of course, being a teen, I was not fully aware of the beauty of it all, but I was focused catching up on our feelings about life, love and homework... (and saying hi to the Forum cats, of course!). I went back as an adult and I was blown away by the rich history and amazing-ess of this spot in Rome.

This place is special to me because my father was stationed here after WWII. Years later I met husband, who is from here, and our family has made memories walking the Residenz gardens, eating gelato, watching fireworks from the Fortress, attending festivals and concerts, and shopping. Dating back to the time of the Celts, Würzburg is a culturally rich seat of Prince Bishops who ruled for over 6 centuries. Despite a history of peasant revolts, witch trials, and invasions, and the bombing of WWII that destroyed almost 90% of the city, the city was rebuilt and thrives today. Some beauties are the Residenz, one of the most ornate palaces in Germany, the spectacular vineyards, the multiple churches, and the sculptures by Riemenschneider. I'm partial to walking around the city, tasting the gelato and cuisine, and shopping.

It’s a city of medieval houses and narrow cobblestoned streets with a very romantic and cozy waterfront and lovely parks – just perfect for a stroll. And there is always the right time to clink glasses with the locally grown sparkling wine! In December the famous Christmas market takes place and the beautifully lit old town makes just the perfect backdrop for impressive memories of a lovely visit.

This place is special to me because this is the first capital city I visited when coming to the UK (I grew up in France) and this is where I first practiced my English where everyone speaks with a typical accent! I later lived in Edinburgh during my studies. Edinburgh is such a unique town, I love the sound of bagpipes and the smell of roasted malt !

This place is special to me because my husband proposed to me by a brook off the beaten path at Neuschwanstein Castle. For the less romantically inclined, the Alps are breathtakingly beautiful, and offer hiking in summer and world class skiing in winter (note the Olympic Skistadion). Take the cable car up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest point which is snowcapped year round. The 3 castles in the area are tied to "mad" King Ludwig II, who grew up in Hohenschwangau, built Linderhof, and died before the completion of Neuschwanstein, which later became the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. For those wishing to see vintage household and work articles as well as learn how Germans lived in earlier days, visit the Freilicht and Violin museums.Cafes are dotted all over the area where you can partake of a favorite German custom - Kaffee and Kuchen. Have fun like I did and shop for touristy items such as a Dirndl (traditional German dress), Lederhosen, and a cuckoo clock, which are actually made in the Black Forrest. For the best experience, I encourage you to stay with locals, who rent out apartments in their homes.

This place is special to me because Utrecht it's my hometown and I maped my favorite coffee places. Good coffee, often good music and nice people.

Situated in the midst of hills and vineyards Stuttgart offers the most beautiful views over the city from higher vantage points – to experience a tour of Art + Music one can just stay in the center and take a walk. I have drawn some famous sites and some personal recommendations such as a trendy jazz club and the café Teehaus. Don’t forget to eat a an iconic bretzel with butter!

Here is a map to the filming locations for the Sherlock Holmes tv show along with some fun Sherlock places to visit

Recently I visited Gran Canaria and the island became instantly one of my favourite places. I love its incredibly Iong beaches, dunes of white sand, beautiful mountains, stunning nature, picturesque villages and different climates with long days full of sunshine. Due to this variety it is often described as a "continent in miniature". The map shows the places I visited on the island, but there is much more to discover.

Highlights of special memories while living in Florence

This place is special to me because this is where I used to spend my summer vacations as a child and teen. I always stayed in my cousin’s house. It was an adorable typical little house. Ericeira is a small and lovely village. Is a very calm, charming, typical fishing town that is situated along a coastline of outstanding surfing beaches. Nowadays, and because of the boom of surf lovers, Ericeira is a nice fusion of Portuguese heritage houses and atmosphere with a cool surfing ambience, where traditional fishermen’s cottages live amongst trendy lounge bars and cafes. The fresh smell of the sea is all over this place. It’s truly just wonderful.

This place is special to me because of it's rich cultural heritage and history. My map is inspired by Fraser's book Marie Antoinette: The Journey. These sites mark the dawn of the French Revolution, as well as the fall of the monarchy. Though some sites are marked by a statue and others repurposed, the architecture stands almost untouched by time. I love to imagine what everyday life was like for Marie and Louis, the nobles, and the commoners before those tumultuous times began. It's nice that tourists are welcome to mull over the history of the ancient city, and that we can drink the same tea and eat the same chocolates and pastries which delighted Marie Antoinette!