As I entered Hotel d'Angleterre on the regal Kongens Nytorv Square in Copenhagen, I remember thinking, "Did I just time-travel into Floral Narnia?"

A gala reception kicked off the recent opening night of the 23rd edition of COLCOA* French Film festival held at the Directors Guild. Featured this year were selections from its Film Noir Series, French New Wave 2.0, After 10, World Cinema, Documentaries, and Classics.

Well, I’m still basking in the memories of my cruise experience aboard Holland America’s ms Veendam. At the end of each day’s illuminating tours of the ports of call – Lucca and Pisa, Malaga, Barcelona, Monaco and Gibraltar – I would excitedly rush back to the vessel to my favorite lounge, the Crow’s Nest, where I’d compile my notes over a crisp, full flavored Budweiser Budvar (circa 1245).

After lunching on caviar, The Palladian Traveler hops aboard a hydrofoil and files his fourth dispatch from Peterhof, the sprawling and ornate Russian version of Versailles, just a few nautical miles outside St. Petersburg.

Toys are a wonderful way to inspire travel, imagination, creativity and spark ideas on how to view the world. Here are a number of toys that will bring out the engineer, architect, fireman and artist in your kids, not to mention the budding archaeologist, athlete and journalist.

Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan are set to play the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California on Saturday night, October 26th. A momentous occasion that marks the 40th Anniversary in the duo’s life of ‘Good Time Blues.’ Truly a phenomenal achievement; 40 Years!

Do YOU believe – really believe – in witches? I mean on October 31st all kinds of craziness comes to the fore, with people – mostly kids – dressing up in all kinds of weird looking clothes, and outlandish outfits to celebrate Halloween. But the truth is Halloween night is one of the biggest nights of the year for witches. How do YOU imagine a witch actually looks?

The lobster ravioli was delicious, the Bloody Mary was spicy and potent, and the view of colorful boats bobbing in the water behind my table was incredible. Dinner at Café del Rey was a great way to end a wonderful day in Marina del Rey.

The Palladian Traveler arrives at the very spot where Peter the Great grabbed a shovel, broke ground and gave birth to St. Petersburg as he files his third dispatch from his Easy Pace Russia journey.

As I window shopped along the pristine streets of Monaco’s Golden Circle, where the chic clothing venues of Hermes, Christian Dior, Gucci and Prada are located, I decided then and there I would save my Christmas shopping for later. Passing the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo, it occurred to me that I could fatten my billfold at the palatial establishment.

Every summer, throngs of tourists from Germany and Great Britain descend to splay their pallid bodies on the glorious beaches that ring this island off the coast of Spain. They soak up the sun, swim and sail in the Mediterranean, swarm Mallorca's shops and restaurants, drink her wine, consume her olive oil, and snore in her hotels.

Two Washington exhibits, terrifyingly timely for the stark options before us, demand attention from the recently returned 116th Congress. The Warmth of Other Suns, an exploration of the plight of migrants and refugees, at the Phillips Collection, departs Sept. 22nd. The David H. Koch Fossil Hall — Deep Time, at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum is, like its fossils, here for the long haul

Okay, I know not everyone believes in the Loch Ness Monster, the Easter Bunny or even Santa Claus but everyone believes in Bigfoot, right? Right???? I know this because I’ve actually been to his very own park in Branson, Missouri, dedicated to all things related to the big, hairy guy.

A balmy breeze wafted across our faces. The mountain air was as refreshing as only a mountain atmosphere can brighten one’s day. The crisp and unique aromas of summer drifted over all those at this mountainside location. It was exquisite. Given what we were about to see was in complete contrast to the marvelous climate, and far more about why so many from around the world are still mesmerized by a man and a unique building that he occasionally visited: The Eagles Nest & Adolf Hitler.

Just like Porfiry Petrovich, Dostoevsky’s lead detective in Crime and Punishment, the Palladian Traveler strolls down Nevsky Prospect and conducts his own investigation of St. Petersburg.

Julianne Moore launched her career on episodic television programs such as “The Edge of Night,” “Another World,” “B.L. Stryker,” and “30 Rock.” She eventually moved onto the big screen where she gave memorable performances in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Body of Evidence, Benny & Joon, The Fugitive, Roommates, Nine Months, Surviving Picasso...

Ancient cobbled walkways wandering off from Placa Saint Jaume in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter just wide enough for horse and carriage and strangely mysterious and mystifying on this late May evening, pulled us in among the darkness of Barcelona’s medieval times past shards of Roman walls with tales to share.

The Palladian Traveler barely touches down in the “Land of the Tsars” and he immediately satisfies his craving for caviar in his first dispatch from St. Petersburg.

OK, hear me out on this because what I’m going to share with you is not only surprising, but also – in my humble view – almost unknown. Which is why I call my features “Travel With A Difference.”

Who says you have to go to the beach and fight traffic and hordes of people to escape the heat? Why not head about 90 miles east of Los Angeles and cool down at a luxurious, air conditioned resort with a giant pool and lazy river, gourmet restaurants, a 4-Diamond hotel, a full-service spa and lots of great slots and gaming.

Recently my 22-year-old nephew demanded in his own special way for me to name what was my favorite adventure destination. After a bit of hemming and hawing, I finally succumbed, but explained that everyone's concept of favorite is subjective. . Plus bad weather and even your emotional state at that given moment can play with your judgment.

It is not often that a toilet and a tea ceremony form perfect metaphors for the culture of a country, but so it is in Japan. The toilet falls into the realm of delightful personal discoveries – albeit all of them in the hotel bathroom of the Kyoto Park Hotel.

The Palladian Traveler lurks in the shadows while attempting to solve a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma as he files a series of new dispatches from St. Petersburg and Moscow.