Art Nouveau splendor and a soothing soak at the Hotel Gellert.

With wonderful architecture, vibrant culture, and rich history, Budapest is a wonderful destination.  Since joining the European Union in 2004, it has many of the advantages of Western Europe.  But it’s managed to maintain most of its Eastern European mystique.

Straddling the Danube, the cities of Buda and Pest offer lots to see and do.  And you’ll likely be worn out after a full day of seeing the sights.  But there’s a great way to unwind in Budapest when it’s time to kick back.  Visit one of the city’s 118 natural thermal springs for a soak. 

Image Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oansari/

Off the beaten path in Paris on Ile St-Louis.

The Seine runs through Paris, dividing the city into the Left and Right Banks.  The larger of the two islands in the river, the Ile de la Cité packs a lot of sightseeing bang, -- including Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame -- into a few blocks.

But it’s the other island, the Ile St-Louis, that we always return to.  When the square in front of Notre Dame is packed with tourists, Ile St-Louis offers a comparatively peaceful respite about five minutes away.  To reach it, walk to the back side of Notre Dame, where you’ll have great views of the magnificent buttresses.  Then walk through the lime tress in the park and cross the Pont St-Louis bridge.

Picasso's Provence studio open for the first time.

The light in Provence is remarkable. So much so that many artists had their most productive periods while living there. Born in Aix-en-Provence, Cezanne spent most of his life there. And Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse were all inspired by the shimmering light and staggering natural beauty.

Picasso too spent many summers in Provence, and lived in Vallauris, Mougins and Cannes. In 1958, at the age of 79, Picasso bought Chateau de Vauvenargues with Jacqueline, his second wife. The castle, which was extensively rebuilt in the 17th century, includes Picasso's studio, which is now open to the public for the first time.

Image Flickr: Monica Arellano-Ongpin