The travelling architect

Olive Trees, Old Friends & One Big Steak Meeting up with friends and celebrating love is always a perfect excuse to travel. Over the past decade, Italy has become our most visited destination—and yet, it continues to surprise and delight us. This time, our journey took us to Pistoia, via Florence. Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Pistoia is often called the “enchanted stone city,” and it truly lives up to the name. Pistoia is only 25 minutes by car from Florence and the distances within the city are short. We stayed in a room in a traditional Mansion outside the city, up the Tuscany hills, between olive trees and roses. With a local friend as our guide, we wandered through the city center, soaking in its quiet beauty. We visited the San Giovanni Church, the Romanesque San Bartolomeo in Pantano, and the striking Basilica of Our Lady of Humility. Piazza del Duomo, the main square, was buzzing with locals chatting, sipping drinks, and savoring the simple pleasures of life. The food? A...

70 years, 4 days and 1 Unforgettable Irish experience My mum’s 70th birthday was the perfect reason to organize a family trip. Last time, 7 years ago, we were six adults and one child. This time, the group grew to six adults and three kids—more laughter, more energy, even more love but not least more time all together. Dublin, Ireland's capital has many similarities with English cities, like the red brick and the drinking culture. The weather was exceptionally good, which allowed us to walk in the city undisturbed and enjoy the parks.  We spent four days in Ireland: one in Kilkenny and three in Dublin. The train ride to Kilkenny took about two hours, passing through uninterrupted green landscapes dotted with animals—a peaceful contrast to city life. The majestic castle, the secret alleys, the serene cathedral, the scenery and the top restaurant that we picked to celebrate the birthday made our day memorable. "Butcher" is a fine dining restaurant with excellent steaks, coc...