OK, since this is a travel blog with an ending, I'm going to post a list of links so you can follow the trip from the beginning.
LONDON
* Itinerary--List of hotels (Sept. 29)
* Crossing the Pond--quick London tour and Indian food. (Sept. 30)
* London Bestiary--Allison Lapper in Trafalgar Square and the War Room after a thorough drenching. (Oct. 1)
* Hakkasan--Chic underground Chinese food at a hefty price. (Oct. 2)
* Perspective and Slaughter--Uccello at the National Gallery and Titus Andronicus at the Globe. (Oct. 2)
* It's Good to Have an Empire--British Museum and Norman Foster's Great Court. (Oct. 4)
* From Gherkins to Wrens to Moderns--Swiss Re, Wren's Monument to Fire of London, St. Stephen Wallbrook, and the Tate Modern. (Oct. 5)
PARIS
* L'Ambroisie to the Louvre--Three-star magnificence, the Louvre, and a sunny meal in the Tuileries. (Oct. 7)
* Simply Sensational Sensing--Just-opened restaurant, Nuit Blanche, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and the Canal St. Martin. (Oct. 8)
* Cyrano de Bergerac--Magic at the theater. (Oct. 9)
* Quai Branly--Another Jean Nouvel triumph (and some thrilling art) and a strangely exciting day at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. (Oct. 10)
* Le Grand Vefour--Much that was delicious, including another three star and two of the most sumptuous rooms on the planet at the Musee Carnavalet. (Oct. 13)
BORDEAUX
* When Did Bordeaux Get So Fancy?--Monument aux Girondins, Entrepot Laine, and my old stomping grounds, Cafe Regent. (Oct. 13)
* Fine Dining in Wine Country--Pavillon des Boulevards et La Tupina. (Oct. 14)
BARCELONA
* Barcelona in Bloom--Jean Nouvel, Mies van der Rohe, and--of course--Antonio Gaudi. (Oct. 16)
* Great Barcelona Architecture Continues With Gaudi--We get invited inside. (Oct. 17)
* We Go to Vic--A short train trip to Jose Maria Sert paradise. (Oct. 17)
* High and Low Eating--Drolma, Romesco, a great breakfast time at Mercat Boqueria, plus a trip to the Picasso Museu. (Oct. 18)
VENICE
* Wandering in Venice--Getting to know a favorite city all over again. (Oct. 19)
* Aqua Alte--Guidecca dining, Al Gondolieri, and Peggy Guggenheim's art. (Oct. 20)
* La Bienniale di Architettura--Architecture as art, chivalry lives, opera in Italy, and another fine meal at al Covo. (Oct. 23)
* Wading to Torcella--We dine barefoot and I get a bird's eye view of the lagoon. (Oct. 24)
* Harry's Bar--Still no substitute for perfection... (Oct. 26)
RAVENNA
* Mosaics in Ravenna and more Palladio--Vicenza, more Palladio, and our introduction to the glories of Ravenna. (Oct. 26)
AREZZO
* From Ravenna to Arezzo--Foliage along the way, our favorite hotel, the Vogue in Arezzo, and a ridiculously lavish meal at Lancia d'Oro. (Oct. 28)
* Greatest Painting in the World and the Tartufi Shack--Along the Piero della Francesca trail, we find white truffles, direct from the source. (Oct. 28)
* Over the Hills to Umbria--Deer hunting and a drive to Urbino. (Oct. 29)
* A Day of Superlatives--Orvieto, Pienza, and the Loggia Vasari lunch. (Oct. 30)
FIRENZE
* Holiday in Firenze--Pitti Palace, Giorgione, and rabbit. (Nov. 1)
* Don and Alexa and... Sostanza--My favorite people, and restaurant, in Firenze. (Nov. 1)
* Beccofino and a Tour of Tuscan Gardens--Best rabbit ever, plus Villas Medici, La Balze, Castello, and Gamberaia. (Nov. 2)
* Locals Only--Market day and another trip to Sostanza. (Nov. 3)
* Alluvione and Art--Flood anniversary, Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria Novella. (Nov. 5)
ROMA
* Roma and an Evening to Remember at Centopoveri--Osteria Centopoveri, Hotel Senato, Ara Pacis. (Nov. 5)
* Street Art and an Invitation to the French Embassy--Ciesa Saint-Louis, Piazza del Popolo, tomb of Augustus, the Farnese Hercules, and Da Pancrazio. (Nov. 6)
* Convivial Dining and the Appian Way--Il Convivio Troiani, Galleria Borghese, Appian Way, EUR, and Rosetta. (Nov. 8)
* Arrivederci Roma and Hello US of A--Stroll across the Tiber and Da Pancrazio again. (Nov. 9)
NEW YORK
* And So to Home... Thanks for Reading--"The Little Dog Laughed," "Company," and the Russian Tea Room. (Nov. 16)
