world reviewer
larapiegeler
Member statistics
- Member since
- 18th May 2007
Born in England under a curious star, Lara can usually be found in front of her computer or with her nose in a book, getting enthusiastic about something obscure. When it comes to treats, novelties and objects of desire she is decidedly unpatriotic, and instead of trusting Selfridges, prefers to trawl the globe for traditional, bizarre, rare, nostalgic or delicious items, each with its own story, to give her something to talk about at dinner parties. Exploring the new has always been her favourite game, whether during her travels in Romania, Poland, France and Germany or at home in Richmond, Surrey. There is only one thing she will never try, and that is a diet.
larapiegeler's activity
- 02 Nov 2009
larapiegeler reviewed Il Palio in Siena, Italy
Emotions run exhilaratingly high with the colours of Siena’s 17 city quarters during Italy’s most famous palio, the Palio di Siena which takes place once on 2nd July and once on 16th August each year. Each locality, or ‘contrade’…"
- 18 Jun 2009
larapiegeler reviewed Cours Saleya in Nice, France
The Cours Saleya is Nice's favourite street for those who want to meet for a chat or just enjoy a wander to nowhere specific; gift shops, pavement cafes and restaurants sit side by side all along both sides of this pedestrianised thoroughfare, but it's t…"
- 10 Jun 2009
- 21 May 2009
- 20 May 2009
- 18 May 2009
- 11 Mar 2009
larapiegeler reviewed The Gettysburg Battlefield in US East Coast, United States
The defeat of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia on 3rd July, 1863 followed a campaign of battles fought at Gettysburg, climaxing with the Battle of Gettysburg itself, which resulted in more deaths and casualties than any other…"
- 21 Jan 2009
larapiegeler reviewed Badger Watching in Crawley, United Kingdom
One of Britain's largest land carnivores, the secretive badger inhabits that nocturnal woodland world of owls and foxes, sneaking out for moonlit foraging and playing when we're not around to watch - but, of course, we really should be. A well-organised …"
- 03 Dec 2008
larapiegeler reviewed Sorrento in Naples, Italy
To describe a place as one of the highlights of the Amalfi Coast is a grand accolade indeed, but Sorrento carries the epithet with ease. Settled serenely along a broad stretch of pine-clad cliff next to the Amalfi Drive, it leaves the honour of keeping l…"
larapiegeler reviewed Saranda in Albania
As yet, the ancient port city of Saranda is relatively unspoiled by the tourist industry and gazes proudly out onto the Ionian Sea next to its long-ruined sister, Butrint, inhabited since pre-history. Fringed with cream-coloured sand, clusters of palm…"
larapiegeler reviewed Meze in Cyprus in Limassol, Cyprus
Meze – gastronomic heaven for the indecisive – is as widespread a concept in Cyprus as it is in the rest of the Eastern Mediterranean region. The traditions associated with the serving of a sequence of little 'finger food' portions of numerous dishes var…"
larapiegeler reviewed Troodos Mountain Villages in Cyprus
Mount Olympus, at the centre of Cyprus, is the tallest mountain in the Troodos range, and an ancient, 'men-only' temple to Aphrodite crowns its peak. The other mountains, though, are rather less forbidding. Quiet villages, little, terraced fields, orchar…"
larapiegeler reviewed Pitsilia Wine Route in Limassol, Cyprus
Throughout the mountains of Madari and Papoutsa, and in parts of Machairas, the rambling patches of pine, olive and bay trees are interspersed with pretty villages of white-and-terracotta houses, and these are home to the Cypriot vintners of Pitsilia, wh…"
larapiegeler reviewed Grotta la Porta Cave in Naples, Italy
The charming, elegant town of Positano has lots of stories to tell of writers and movie stars, but its ancient Grotta la Porta cave, located just inside the harbour, tells one that could only have been revealed by archaeologists. Many centuries ago – dur…"
larapiegeler reviewed Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Naples, Italy
Located at the hub of the fantasy Campanian seaside town of Positano, on the tiny Flavio Gioia square, Santa Maria Assunta is a bright, detailed gem of a church. Decorated throughout with ornate gold stucco on white, and topped with a majolica ceramic ti…"
- 02 Dec 2008
larapiegeler reviewed Vienna Rathausplatz Christmas market in Vienna, Austria
The enormous Christmas market that takes place in Vienna’s Rathausplatz is the city’s largest and oldest, dating back to 1296, when small, local traders would supply groceries, textiles and practical items along with a few festive pastries to shoppers in…"
larapiegeler reviewed Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Market in Vienna, Austria
The imposing, symmetrical Maria-Theresien-Platz hosts a pretty Christmas village during November and December each year, just a short walk away from Vienna’s largest Weihnachtsmarkt (outside the City Hall). The 64 decorated chalet stalls encircle the …"
larapiegeler reviewed Belvedere Palace Christmas Market in Vienna, Austria
Commissioned by Prince Francois-Eugene of Savoy and built during the first half of the 18th century to a lavish baroque design, the two-part Belvedere Palace is one of Vienna’s outstanding beauty spots. Set in an immaculately kept French formal garden…"
larapiegeler reviewed Vienna's Spittelberg Christmas Market in Burgenland, Austria
A little way out from Vienna's centre, Spittelberg is a relaxed, somewhat bohemian area that was once regarded as a poorer suburb but has since evolved into a fashionable district of craft shops, galleries, design houses, bookshops and cafes. Its narr…"
larapiegeler reviewed Michelstadt Christmas Market in Germany
A medieval gem set in a modern city and surrounded by miles of fairytale Odenwald forest, Michelstadt's Old Town is one of Hesse's best-preserved and most historically evocative places, with its timber-framed houses, old city wall and Gothic church. T…"
larapiegeler reviewed Dublin Docklands Christmas Market in Dublin, Ireland
The theme of the '12 Days of Christmas Market' at George's Dock in Dublin is described as a 'chance to re-live all the best bits', and indeed, you'll discover hot chocolate, mince pies, crepes, apple punch, brass bands, face painting, art workshops, toys…"
larapiegeler reviewed Dinkelsbuhl in Bavaria, Germany
Quite possibly the prettiest town on the Romantic Road, Dinkelsbuhl is a walled Medieval fairytale setting for the Spitalhof Christmas market – rows of glowing chalets set out beneath spreading trees in the enchanting main square. Enjoy gluhwein and a…"
larapiegeler reviewed Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market in Bavaria, Germany
There are very few places that look so much as though they've been lifted wholesale from a fairytale, and when the Reiterlesmarkt is taking place on the Marktplatz of this beautiful Medieval walled city, it's probably the closest you'll ever get to stepp…"
larapiegeler reviewed York St. Nicholas Fayre in York, United Kingdom
York is charming at Christmas anyway, with its quaint medieval streets and tiny 'snickelways', old city walls, traditional market places and fabulous Gothic cathedral – but the St. Nicholas Fayre just about perfects it. Sitting alongside a variety of oth…"
larapiegeler reviewed Lincoln Christmas Market in Lincoln, United Kingdom
Lincoln's Christmas market is promoted as the largest of its kind in Europe, with more than three hundred stalls, but it loses none of its traditional festive atmosphere for all that. Set within the confines of the city's ancient, cobbled Minster Yard wi…"
larapiegeler reviewed Leeds Christmas Market in Leeds, United Kingdom
The historic city of Leeds boasts one of the UK's longest-established German-themed markets, comprised of almost forty wooden chalet stalls set out on the central Millennium Square. Besides the customary toys, gifts, decorations and greetings cards on of…"
larapiegeler reviewed Christmas at Hestercombe Gardens in Taunton, United Kingdom
A wonderful 18th century landscape garden which has been successfully restored to its former glory, Hestercombe is now home to Somerset's most popular Christmas market. Set amongst forty acres of beautiful terraces, walled gardens, woodland, follies and …"
- 26 Nov 2008
larapiegeler reviewed Caerphilly Medieval Christmas Market in Cardiff, United Kingdom
By its very nature, a Christmas market generates a sense of nostalgia. Simple pleasures – a hot drink on a cold night, woolly mittens, traditional snacks, a glimpse of the red-and-white-suited man himself... So the aim of Caerphilly's Christmas market or…"
larapiegeler reviewed Belfast's Continental Christmas Market in Belfast, United Kingdom
Named the 'Continental Christmas Market', Belfast's festive shopping area in the grounds of City Hall takes inspiration from its European counterparts as many in the UK now do, but this one is divided into specific national sections, with corresponding t…"
larapiegeler reviewed Hafnarfjordur Christmas Market in Reykjavík, Iceland
This isn't just a good one to visit if you want to be sure of snow. Hafnarfjordur constructs a whole Christmas village to celebrate the season, with free festive entertainment and thousands of fairy lights, and it shines like a beacon in the volcanic lan…"
larapiegeler reviewed Llubljana Christmas Market in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Lubljana is definitely a good choice if you're looking for a truly traditional Christmas market. Not quite a stag party destination yet, the city retains a great deal of its traditional, local charm and you'll find yourself wandering through romantic lit…"
larapiegeler reviewed Stuttgart Christmas Market in Stuttgart, Germany
A total of around three hundred stalls ramble across the squares of Stuttgart's old town, their charmingly festive backdrops ranging from the dramatic 18th century New Castle and the 10th century Old Castle through rows of colourful Medieval houses to th…"
larapiegeler reviewed Rome's Piazza Navona Christmas market in Rome, Italy
The Piazza Navona Christmas Market is like a concentration of the duality that makes Rome itself so exciting: the vivid presence of history and tradition thriving and growing amongst everyday 21st century life. Some of the city's most spectacular ancient…"
larapiegeler reviewed Munich's Marienplatz Christmas Market in Munich, Germany
The fabulous New Town Hall, conceived and built during the Victorian Gothic Revival, towers over Munich's Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt and casts the wonderfully dignified shadow of history over the huge swathe of stalls, which offer a mixture of crafts, …"
larapiegeler reviewed Dresden Christmas Market in Dresden, Germany
Dresden has so many stories to tell, with its lovingly restored baroque buildings, its proud artistic and musical history and its network of rich pine forest and parkland patches, which spread between the Medieval streets and down to the romantic Elbe Va…"
larapiegeler reviewed Basel Christmas Market in Basel, Switzerland
Basel has its own special Christmas route – the longest in Europe - which runs from the Messeplatz via the Mittleren bridge, all the way down to the Aeschenplatz. All the businesses that line it engage in a window-dressing competition and over a hundred …"
- 24 Nov 2008
larapiegeler reviewed Bellapais Monastery in
Set in the peaceful hillside village of Bellapais, this intriguing building dates back to the year 1200, when it was established by an order of white-robed Augustinian monks as St. Mary of the Mountain. Rumoured to have served as a reliquary for a fragme…"
larapiegeler reviewed Cape Gkreko National Forest Park in Cyprus
An area of astounding natural beauty, comprised of dense, lush forests, rushing waterfalls, secluded places to paddle, towering cliffs and inspiring history, Cape Gkreko National Forest Park is a fantastic place to go to for outdoor pursuits. Fishing, di…"
