There are wine regions that hang on the tip of the tongue of serious wine enthusiasts - those regions that quickly come up in conversation when discussing good wines from around the world. One of those is Bordeaux and all of its accompanying appellations. Working in the wine business for the past 10 years I've heard so much about this part of France, its history, the quality of wines, and vineyard practices. As a result upon personally … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2015
Visit Paso Robles, California, (Before Everyone Else Does)
Rolling hills, gnarly oak trees, thermal spas, an innovative food scene, and some of the best wines produced in California (or anywhere) -- no I’m not talking about Napa Valley, or even Sonoma. Wine Enthusiast rated it a top destination in 2013. The Guardian calls it “the place to visit before everyone else does,” but the word is out - fine wine is being produced by boutique wineries in Paso Robles, California. Actually wine grapes have been … [Read more...]
Best Beaches in Bali
White sandy beaches. Coconuts. Aquamarine waters. Colorful coral. Epic surf spots. That’s the vision dancing in people's heads when they book a beach trip to Bali, and with a little luck, that’s what they’ll find. But while Bali’s beaches can be all of the above, overly crowded tourist spots and heaps of trash piles can leave not-in-the-know vacationers wondering if the fabled beaches really exist. On my arrival in Bali, I fell victim to … [Read more...]
Saskatchewan, Moldovan Wine Cave & a Saskatoon Restaurant: How do they all Connect?
As we descended onto the twinkling lights of Saskatoon below we flew next to a significant lightning storm. Jagged bolts of lightning lit up massive thunderheads for a moment - alternating between bright white and pink light. This lightning is the cause of hundreds of fires that are burning out of control in the northern part of the province having displaced some 13,000 people. The economy seems to be doing well here according to my driver … [Read more...]
Pittsburgh: Inspiring Awe and Nostalgia
Visit Pittsburgh. It’s a vibrant city with fantastic views and all kinds of easily accessible ways to see them, a sports legacy to envy, and vital American history. But more importantly, it is a tribute to what city government, public and private enterprise, and concerned citizens – what we, as human beings – can accomplish. In the last 50 years or so Pittsburgh has orchestrated a miraculous environmental transformation. Ride to the top of the … [Read more...]
Fly to Brazil with Tam Airlines
A representative for Tam Airlines recently contacted me to promote their trips from the USA to Brazil. They offer a number of trips from the USA to Brazil - flying to numerous destinations within the country including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasilia. Doing a cursory check on prices I found a round trip from New York to Rio de Janeiro for under $700. And from Miami for closer to $600. That isn't so bad considering some of the round trip … [Read more...]
Dubai – A journey into the city of superlatives
This city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most popular destinations in the Middle East. This is hardly surprising, because here the extraordinary wealth of the country reflects in every detail. On the other hand, the city offers living space for approximately 85% of the country's population and many attractions for visitors from all over the world. Only in 2014, the city welcomed than 11.6 million tourists... Nodal point for … [Read more...]
Montreal: City of Festivals and Food
Summer in Montreal is filled with a variety of festivals and events to fill up your days with a wide range of music, food and fun. Last week, I was invited to experience the vibrant port city, taking in a market food walking tour, craft beer tour as well as Jazz Festival and Complètement Cirque. Bonus? Discovering Montreal’s first quay-side Poutine Festival during my stay! Sleep My homes away from home were Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth … [Read more...]
10 reasons to visit unique George Town in Malaysia
Two years ago we arrived to charming George Town with the intention of staying one week. We stayed one month in the end. In May 2015 we returned and again we stayed much longer than we had planned, and we will be definitely coming back to this intriguing town in the future. Where exactly can you find this town of wonders? George Town is situated on Penang island in the north-west of Peninsular Malaysia. We always feel home in George Town … [Read more...]
Precautions to take before setting off on your travels
Travelling is one of the most life-changing experiences you can undertake. Whether you’re just jetting off to a fascinating location for a week or if you’re planning on living out of your backpack for a year somewhere, you’re bound to create unforgettable memories that you can cherish for years to come. Of course, it’s easy to get overexcited and rush your preparations when you have a big trip coming up, but you still need to take the regular … [Read more...]