Ash above the Iceland volcano, as seen by a NASA satellite. Full disclosure: we lightened the image a bit in Photoshop to make it easier to see the details.

We captured this NASA satellite image of the Iceland volcano the other day. Yes, it’s been out of the news (mostly) but it’s still sending ash into the sky.

The thing is, disruptive as it is to travel, with the perversity of color digital imagery, it’s actually kind of beautiful from space. We thought you’d like to take a look.

Extra credit if you can pronounce it: Eyjafjallajokull.

A portion of the Piano Suite by Diane von Furstenberg at Claridges, London.

As a designer, Diane von Furstenberg is all about fabric. Her eye for print, wrapped around or laid over the female form, catapulted her to international consciousness and has kept her there for more years that it’s polite to name.

Recently she decorated two rooms for Claridges, her favorite London hotel (and one we love as well), and that fabric sensibility is everywhere. The DVF Studio is a haven of black and white draped across great architecture and framing modern-day electronics, without interfering with either.

But it’s the Piano Suite we love.
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In Bergisch Gladback, Germany, the place now known as Castle Hotel Lerbach was first mentioned in a 1384 manuscript. It opened as a hotel in 1992 and is home to chef Dieter Muller, whose three-star-rated restaurant (named after him) is a highlight of any visit to Germany's wine country.

Is it one of your life goals to dine in the world’s best restaurants? Unlike the amateur review sites we mentioned in our last post, Michelin Guide writers definitely know how to find and evaluate excellent cuisine.
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President and Mrs. Obama

We’d like to congratulation President Obama on having been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today.

Surely this means a trip to Oslo is in his future. As it happens, we’ve dined in Oslo three times this year and thought you might like to read a few reviews from local restaurants. Perhaps the President and Mrs. Obama will have an opportunity to enjoy the same meals we found so appealing.

Restaurant Det Gamle Raadhus
At first blush, Restaurant Det Gamle Raadhus, in Oslo, Norway, might seem a cliché of dusty splendor and stiff service, but lately, regulars have been raving about the revamped, local-inspired menu. The reindeer steak with a ragu of morels is a new take on an old dish – made lighter and given a little port reduction to brighten the flavors.

Any starter featuring the house-smoked red trout is worth ordering; it’s a salty, bracing fillet that’s just right with horseradish cream. Dinner for two, before wine, about $160.
Contact info: Nedre slottsgate 1. Tel: 47-2242-0107. www.gamleraadhus.no.
(Reviewed 4/07/2009 in Passport Newsletter.)

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France's high-speed train, Thalys, boards passengers in The Hague, Netherlands.

Those in Europe who are responsible for high-speed rail service are thinking about business travel needs, but leisure travelers can also benefit from ever-improving European rail service.

Why Travel by Rail?
One big advantage of rail is that itʼs a less stressful way to travel, partly because it is more comfortable, and partly because the rail station experience is so much more tolerable than a typical airport. Also, with far fewer weather delays, one can generally count on on-time departures and arrivals. And finally, for journeys of two to four hours, the door-to-door time for passengers is usually shorter via rail than via air.

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