It was my last day in Athens after spending several weeks producing two exciting television shows on Greece. My brain was fried. I was concerned I was getting a cold, and I felt that getting sick was God's way of telling me to slow down. Instead of heading out on a shoot, I ditched work and spent the day lounging poolside on the rooftop of my hotel. Thankfully, it worked. The next day, I felt recharged.
Nearly one in four people worldwide is Muslim -- and they are not necessarily where you might think, according to an extensive new study that aims to map the global Muslim population.
On my last trip to Europe, I didn't bring my usual $200 cash reserve. With just a few bucks in my wallet, I landed in Madrid, relying entirely on two ATM cards and no cash safety net. It turned out OK.
Facetime with Reinhard Mitschek, Managing Director, Nabucco Gas Pipeline Project
For years, my travels have prompted me to think about religion.
The frantic hunt for the right cell-phone charger will soon be a thing of the past -- in Europe at least -- as major manufacturers on Monday agreed to introduce a universal adaptor within six months.
Where are tapeworms most likely to be found?
Many travelers tramp through Europe like they're visiting the cultural zoo. "Ooh, that guy in lederhosen yodeled! Excuse me, could you do that again so I can take a picture?" When I'm in Europe, I become the best German or Spaniard or Italian I can be.
Does trans-national democracy work? Or is Europe about to see a wave of new Far Right politicians and mavericks marching from obscurity to national prominence thanks to an election most voters are neglecting? Between June 4 and June 7 it could happen.
With my mantra being "pack light," I used to be against packing electronics of any kind. But now, I bring my laptop, iPod, digital camera and mobile phone to Europe. With hotels retiring their fax machines in favor of email, mobile phones getting cheaper and easier to buy, and Wi-Fi hotspots popping up everywhere, it's never been simpler to get connected.
It was my last day in Athens after spending several weeks producing two exciting television shows on Greece. My brain was fried. I was concerned I was getting a cold, and I felt that getting sick was God's way of telling me to slow down. Instead of heading out on a shoot, I ditched work and spent the day lounging poolside on the rooftop of my hotel. Thankfully, it worked. The next day, I felt recharged.
Nearly one in four people worldwide is Muslim -- and they are not necessarily where you might think, according to an extensive new study that aims to map the global Muslim population.
On my last trip to Europe, I didn't bring my usual $200 cash reserve. With just a few bucks in my wallet, I landed in Madrid, relying entirely on two ATM cards and no cash safety net. It turned out OK.
Facetime with Reinhard Mitschek, Managing Director, Nabucco Gas Pipeline Project
For years, my travels have prompted me to think about religion.
The frantic hunt for the right cell-phone charger will soon be a thing of the past -- in Europe at least -- as major manufacturers on Monday agreed to introduce a universal adaptor within six months.
Where are tapeworms most likely to be found?
Many travelers tramp through Europe like they're visiting the cultural zoo. "Ooh, that guy in lederhosen yodeled! Excuse me, could you do that again so I can take a picture?" When I'm in Europe, I become the best German or Spaniard or Italian I can be.
Does trans-national democracy work? Or is Europe about to see a wave of new Far Right politicians and mavericks marching from obscurity to national prominence thanks to an election most voters are neglecting? Between June 4 and June 7 it could happen.
With my mantra being "pack light," I used to be against packing electronics of any kind. But now, I bring my laptop, iPod, digital camera and mobile phone to Europe. With hotels retiring their fax machines in favor of email, mobile phones getting cheaper and easier to buy, and Wi-Fi hotspots popping up everywhere, it's never been simpler to get connected.
A more unified Europe has made it simpler to go from one country into another. Driving on the continent, however, remains a challenge because of inconsistent traffic laws and road signs. We asked representatives of several rental-car companies about little-known rules and conventions that visitors should know before hitting the road in Europe.
If you want to save money while traveling, consider hosteling. Several thousand hostels provide beds throughout Europe -- in cities, towns, and the countryside -- for $20 to $40 per night.
Smart budget travel isn't just about saving money -- it's about maximizing your experience. Let me stoke your travel dreams by sharing some of my favorite European experiences from 30 years of crisscrossing the Continent.
Given the economy, the number one question I've gotten lately from people is whether to go to Europe. It's true that many people will put off their trips for another time. But millions of globetrotters -- who see exploring our world as a way of life -- will find a way to keep on traveling.
Every year when I update my guidebook series, I find out what's new in Europe. Here's a review of what Americans can expect the next time they cross the Atlantic. Note that this is a continent-wide look at the latest in Europe. In upcoming columns, I'll cover what's new per major country.
Europe's major markets moved higher for a second straight day, gaining 1% to 2% during Tuesday morning trading.
London was down a percent, while Paris was off about half a percent. The Frankfurt index was closed.
Europe's major markets gained ground Tuesday morning, ignoring slumping indexes in Asia and on Wall Street.
With the European seasons just about at the halfway mark, there seems to be one overriding theme. Every one of the big boys (except Barcelona) is generally stinking it up. Some more so, some less so, admittedly.
There exists a school of thought that dictates if you think something catastrophic, then it won't happen. What would happen if my family died in a car accident? What would happen if my house caught on fire?
With the college season concluded and the MLS Combine and 2009 SuperDraft just a few weeks away, the time is ripe for the league to revise its policies regarding college players.
If there's a silver lining in the economic crisis, it's that the U.S. dollar has recovered somewhat. This is good news for all those shaggy-haired backpackers swarming over the Acropolis and puffing away in Amsterdam's coffee shops, but it turns out the dollar's bounceback has poignant ramifications for American soccer players hoping to make the leap to Europe.
Construction work has stopped on Europe's tallest building after developers said their lofty ambitions had been hit by the global financial crisis, a Russian news agency reported Friday.
One of the things that charms me about traveling through Europe is its ethnic variety. Hop on a train and two hours later you step into a different culture, different language and different heritage.
Stocks in Europe and Asia retreated Tuesday as investors were unable to shake their economic fears.
The dollar rose against the euro and the pound Thursday after monetary policy makers in Europe cut interest rates in response to growing economic weakness.
Several European banks slashed interest rates Thursday morning. But that should not be the end of it.
From Tokyo to London, the markets begin the week down
Despite European leaders congratulating one another on their bold bank rescue plans, they've retreated from their long-standing commitment to reduce CO2 emissions
As governments urge banks to jump-start lending, some worry that credit could turn toxic in the coming downturn
The first reaction is positive to ambitious rescue plans hatched over the weekend by U.S. and European governments
Some analysts say the case-by-case approach of national governments is undermining confidence rather than bolstering it
Major markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America sank Monday as traders looked past America's bank bailout bill and focused on Europe's growing financial crisis.
EU border patrol missions are scouring the Italian shore in search of yet another missing vessel carrying North Africans attempting to reach Europe, a Maltese commander told CNN Thursday.
It is an unusual sight to behold: Freight trains zipping through Europe, across country borders - and over myriad rail voltages and national train systems. The technology patching together these previously incompatible train lines: A new "one-size-fits-all" locomotive that is winning over freight operators across Europe.
With prices double that of the US, fishermen and truck drivers are among those getting hit hard -- and starting to protest
Rising food prices, trade tensions and social unrest are prompting a rethink of the EU's ambitious hopes for running cars and trucks on biofuel
Four NBA teams will be playing preseason games in Europe next October as part of NBA Europe Live 2008, commissioner David Stern will announce Thursday.
Quick, what's worse: a banking collapse or soaring food prices? If you're the Federal Reserve, that's no longer even a question. By tossing Bear Stearns a lifeline this weekend and then throwing much of the contents of its monetary toolbox into the market- including Tuesday's three-quarters-of-a-point cut - the Fed demonstrated its overriding priority: forestalling a growing financial and economic crisis in the U.S.
Remember the days when a washing machine lasted for decades? If it broke down it could be fixed. But now it seems it is cheaper to discard our broken products and buy new ones. The side effects of our throwaway society are ever-larger waste mountains festering with toxic chemicals and the depletion of natural resources such as rare metals.
So gasoline prices are at an all-time high. But after adjusting for inflation, rising incomes and better fuel efficiency, how bad are they really?
After working long and hard to make their new currency a strong rival to the dollar, many euro enthusiasts are growing nostalgic for the runtier days
Stocks opened little changed Monday as investors were cautious ahead of the week's economic reports
A storm dubbed "Emma" slammed into Europe Saturday with high winds and heavy rain, killing at least two people, authorities said.
No subject appears to divide as many people in the climate change arena as biofuels. Their potential to positively impact greenhouse gas emissions is undoubtedly enormous.
Also in this column: • Main obstacles to European expansion • Small trades that could pay off big
Just when I was getting used to the idea that a euro should cost $1.20, our dollar plummets 20 percent, and now a euro costs $1.50. Don't expect our dollar to recover anytime soon because, frankly, we're not as rich as we think we are.
Also in this column: • How big trades changed landscape • Upside for Celtics to KG's absence • Different way of viewing standings
One of history's deadliest diseases has been making a comeback. Scientists want to know why
Who says the European Union is undemocratic? Its citizens will have the chance to vote for the design of the new two-euro coin
The most expensive film in French history is released to scathing reviews but is proof that there remains a market for its hero
Europe's pro season may be in full swing, but fans are watching its stars play at the African Cup of Nations
The arrest of 14 jihadists in Barcelona points to concern that the threat there stems from Pakistan, not just North Africa
True or False: Burning biofuel instead of gasoline produces less greenhouse gases
Each summer, Europe greets a stampede of sightseers and shoppers with eager cash registers. Before jumping into the peak-season pig pile, consider the advantages of an off-season trip.
Since forming an alliance with Osama bin Laden, Algeria's Islamist rebels have grown more sophisticated -- and lethal
Three scenes from the new battle for global economic supremacy:
Ever since the dollar began to fall against the euro in 2002, a chorus of government officials, economists and business executives around Europe - from the CEO of Airbus to the Prime Minister of Luxembourg - has complained publicly and in near-apocalyptic terms about the greenback's decline. Their argument has been that the tumbling dollar makes European goods less competitive on world markets and thus poses a big threat to the European economy overall.
I know you've all heard of the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen and gondolas in Venice, but what about spelunking the sewers of Paris or quaffing homebrews with German monks? In this second part of a two-part column, I'll fill you in on more of Europe's quirky sights and experiences.
The U.S. has argued that Iranian, rather than Russian, missiles are the target of its planned defensive system. That may have become a tougher sell
No one planning a trip to Europe needs to be reminded to see Big Ben and the Leaning Tower. But it's the unusual experiences that are often the most memorable part of a trip. Study up in advance and you can enjoy places and experiences like these:
Growing unease among investors has driven banks in Europe to temporarily suspend trading of covered bonds, the latest sign of the deepening problems in the mortgage debt market.
The Giants vs Dolphins game may not usher in an era of American sporting domination in Europe but the NFL and other leagues are giving it a go
With NHL expansion now on the frontburner -- Las Vegas, here we come! -- it's no surprise that this weekend's two-game season-opener in England has re-ignited talk of Europe's potential as a future settlement.
Just weeks after the Federal Reserve made a bold strike at the credit crisis, central bank chiefs in Europe are being put to the test.
I just enjoyed a brainstorming breakfast with a "tour organizer consultant." He's shrewd because tour organizers across the United States think he's smart, hire him, and discuss their situation with him. Therefore he knows everyone's business and can give excellent advice to competing tour companies. Anyone considering booking a tour might enjoy an overview of tour trends and an insight into how organizers sharpen their marketing. Here's a bit of what I learned between the omelet and the English muffin:
At least 15 people died and thousands of acres (hectares) of forest were consumed in fires racing through Greece's Peloponnese peninsula on Friday as southeast Europe experienced a resurgence of summer blazes.
Big business fears that the fight against climate change will cost billions are now giving way to a different view: green can be the color of money.
Relax! There's really no need to panic! That's the soothing message being put out this week by key players in financial markets after two harrowing weeks in which credit markets in Europe all but dried up, prompting massive injections of funds into the system by the European Central Bank, the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.
High in the mountains where France and Spain come together, I drove for hours with just one goal -- to stand atop a ridge looking into a rugged mountain-ringed basin where nature cradles an ancient tribe. At one time, these pint-sized kingdoms were commonplace, but today only a few survive. Finally, I reached my destination deep in the rugged Pyrenees, the principality of Andorra.
E.U. subsidies have spurred big surpluses and made the continent uncompetitive with "New World" wines. Now reform is afoot
As America's appetite for coke fades, Guinea Bissau has become a key transit point for Colombia's narco-traffickers with an eye on the growing European market
Ever caught a glimpse of the secretive Iberian lynx? Or heard the croaking bark of a Mediterranean monk seal?
Mexico's well-kept secret might be on the verge of spreading all across Europe.
Big deals - many of them by private equity buyers - have helped power the stock market's recent rally, but the best days of the buyout boom may be over.
Throughout Europe -- on medieval ramparts, in churches, produce markets, alpine farmsteads and Riviera villages -- the local culture thrives while tourists sleep.
Private equity is circling big targets in Europe, which could drive public animosity of the industry to a tipping point and add pressure on buyout firms already facing heat in the United States.
Turkey is a land of mosques and malls -- a unique blend of East and West.
Ready for some real fantasy football? You could easily field a full Brazilian national team -- plus a whole bench of substitutes -- from players involved this week in Europe's Champions League.
THE BACKGROUND Carbon dioxide makes up nearly 80% of all greenhouse gases. More than a quarter of that CO2 comes from electrical power plants. That's why replacing plants that run on fossil fuels l...
Stocks opened mixed Thursday as investors eyed rallies in markets in Europe and Asia and a dip in jobless claims in the United States.
I spent 12 years in the cosmetics industry in the U.S., where I grew up, and Europe before starting my company, Mascara Plus. It's a subcontractor based in Milan, and we sell to makeup companies, m...
This month, Art of Life is in Venice for Italy's centuries-old carnival taking in the street parades, masquerade balls and private parties at opulent palazzi -- all part of the lengthy celebrations.
In Europe, the streets are full of people wandering around in Brazilian national-team jerseys. On the streets of Rio de Janeiro, you see more and more people wearing jerseys of European club teams.
An outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus strain detected on a British turkey farm is likely a precursor to other outbreaks in Europe, a U.N. bird flu expert said Sunday.
The background: Carbon dioxide makes up nearly 80 percent of all greenhouse gases. More than a quarter of that CO2 comes from electrical power plants. That's why replacing plants that run on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas with renewable power sources, even nukes, has emerged as a major plank in the campaign against global warming.
Not since the last Ice Age, over 8,000 years ago, had the United Kingdom been joined with mainland Europe.
Stocks rose Monday morning amid a flurry of corporate dealmaking, but investors remained cautious ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting.
Reports of several deals were in the air Monday morning, but stocks got off to a lackluster start as investors kept to the sidelines ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting.
Janjaap Ruijssenaars has always been interested in the concept of gravity.
Ranking the world\'s largest companies by how well they conform to socially responsible business practices. By Telis Demos
Do you have a question about MBAs or another aspect of executive education? Each week Steve Haberman, Deputy Dean and Professor of Actuarial Science at London's Cass Business School, answers a query from an Executive Education reader. Click here to e-mail us.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has urged Europe to provide a "master overall plan" to fight Afghanistan's huge drugs trade, which has seen heroin flood Europe and Russia.
Having recently explored the options available to the busy executive for summer relaxation, I was at a loss, I don't mind telling you.
Ecosphere Associates sells what appear to be plastic eggs full of bilge water. But look closer. Inside each Ecosphere you'll find a self-contained ecosystem - replete with shrimp, algae, and bacter...
Europe's central bank said that hedge funds are a major risk to the stability of financial markets, and demanded greater transparency for the massive industry, according to a report Friday.
Satisfying Europe's appetite for out-of-season vegetables has driven supermarkets to turn to Africa with its year-round growing cycle and low labor costs.
The European Union is moving ahead with a plan to cap the greenhouse-gas emissions of airlines - including U.S. carriers that fly to Europe - a move that could add billions of dollars in extra cost...
All right-thinking people agree that reducing dependence on fossil fuels is a Good Thing. Shifting energy consumption toward renewables such as biomass, wind and solar helps make the world cleaner; and it would be awfully nice not to have to rely quite so much on a certain rather volatile region of the world.
Hedge funds posted a strong first quarter, thanks to the continued boom in energy and hefty gains in the metals markets.
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