You’re stuck at home, right? No romantic getaways or imminent departures in sight. No one feels your pain more than we do. (Trust me on this one.) While we are all in a holding pattern for a return to Europe and some of the most romantic places in the world, we have some Valentine’s Day…
Category Archives: Music
Flamenco Guitar: The Sound of Spain
Flamenco is the sound of Spain, a tradition of music and dance that was developed in the 18th century and that remains popular in Spain today. It originated in Andalusia, home of our Cordoba and rural Andalucia UnTours, though it grew to be embraced all over Spain and is performed widely to this day. The…
What’s on in Europe: 2020
So much to see and do in Europe already, but why not plan your trip around some of the season’s special events? Festivals and fairs are a window into a culture, a signifier of what is important to a community, and an excellent way to rub elbows with the locals. Here is your 2020 trip…
Zentrum Paul Klee: A Modern Art Mecca Outside Bern
Paul Klee may be Switzerland’s most famous artist. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus, it seems a fitting time to visit the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern. One of the 20th century’s most influential artists, Klee was an abstract expressionist painter who studied color and took inspiration from music, his global travels,…
Vienna Uncovered: Trip Report
Our Vienna Uncovered premier, in May of 2018, was a success! Our first group was small and agile, easily slipping into some of the most important concert halls and museums of Vienna. Our guests the Sontags wrote: We love the regular UnTours experience but feel that the Vienna Uncovered UnTour was truly something special for…
Vienna for Free: Memorable Parks and Music
Vienna has so much to offer for the culturally curious. Its museums are well worth your time and money, and a concert, a cafe, and some fine dining are a good use of your travel funds. But two of Vienna’s biggest draws, its gardens and its music, can be enjoyed for free. Be sure to…
Portuguese Soul Music: Meet Fado!
Sometimes compared to American blue music, the Fado song captures the essence of the Portuguese people more than any other music and offers a window into the country’s soul. This typically sad song is said to descend from African melodies, though there is no trace of the Fado song in African music nowadays. The music…
Siegfried’s Musical Cabinet Museum, a Gem in Rudesheim, Germany
Join me in charming Rudesheim on the Rhine, an easy day trip from our German Rhine UnTour. With its vineyard-covered hills, distant castles, and narrow cobbled lanes and courtyards, it is one darling town. So cute, in fact, that we often bring our UnTour guests there for a special tour of the museums in town….
Mountains and Music: Q & A with our Salzburg staffer, Vera
The hills are alive, with the sound of music! You’ve seen the movie, but do you know about the lovely city of Salzburg that the film took place in? Firstly, most locals aren’t wearing clothing made from curtains, but there is an amazing presence of history, art, music, and nature. It’s a smaller city that…
Top 10 Places to Go in Spain: from beaches and museums, to mosques and mountains
Top 10 Places to Go in Spain Barcelona This seaside city, known for its quirky architecture, outstanding seafood, and rich art history, is a must-see for anyone traveling to Spain. Architecture really is the center of attention, with great works from Antoni Gaudí, the famously-unfinished church of La Sagrada Familia, and many other cathedrals, buildings…