Deep in the Berkshire countryside, through winding narrow lanes, in a small village named Inkpen, there is a 17th century inn called The Crown and Garter. This inn has a deep and sometimes dark history, connected to a nearby gibbet high on a hillside that tells us of a time long ago when our punishments for crimes were brutal and ghoulish. But thankfully that’s all behind us and this is now an area of bright bursting flowers pots and English … [Read more...]
Hands-on Ecuadorian Artisans Are Hands-Down Amazing
Photo by Alice Bourget [Note: this piece was written in pre-pandemic days, first accepted by the LA Times, but had a couple of long publication delays. And then the pandemic arrived. Ecuador was hit hard. Milton’s tours, listed at the end, are suspended. Here’s to travel to come!] When I was around 10, I tagged along to my brother’s Boy Scout meeting, where one activity was making art projects. Given instruction, I sprayed a clothespin with … [Read more...]
10 Top Reasons to Visit Vietnam
Ranging from leisurely to adventurous travellers, Vietnam has something in store for everyone. This country can be visited throughout the year. People with different tastes, preferences and age group can enjoy Vietnam. I travelled to this beautiful country back in 2017 with my husband and 6 year old daughter. From my experience here are the 10 top reasons to visit Vietnam. 1. Stunning natural beauty Vietnam is one of the most beautiful places … [Read more...]
Cachaça trip Day 9: Morretes
Morning in Morretes. I left the pousada because I woke early. Breakfast wouldn’t be served until eight. Clouds covered the not-so-distant-mountains, but the city was sunny. I walked along the quiet main road. People passed me on their way to work. Schoolchildren carried backpacks, walking in groups, excited for the school day. I crossed over the river on a slight bridge that carried the occasional car. Descending the opposite bank, I walked … [Read more...]
Top 10 Things You Must do in Venice
Upon exiting the Venice train station travelers are greeted by turquoise canals and a stunning church. This is like a scene from a movie; one cannot have arrived in a more picturesque setting. As you lose yourself in the narrow streets it can be easy to forget the sites and attractions that lay within. In order to help with planning your trip to this storied city, we have picked our top 10 things you must do in Venice. TOP 10 THINGS YOU MUST … [Read more...]
Brazilian Cachaça trip, Days 5 and 6: Florianopolis, Itajai, Luis Alves, Santa Catarina
I departed Nova Petropolis at 6:30 am. There were so many more things to see in Rio Grande do Sul, of that I was sure. But I had to get on the road, appreciate the tight curves and tailgaters for one last time. The nearly two hour drive back to the airport in Porto Alegre was relatively uneventful, fortunately. I’d chosen to fly with Gol for my entire trip, though I realized after I bought my tickets that it might have been better to mix up my … [Read more...]
Leisure Time in Vinales, Cuba
Needing the spirit and calming influence of the countryside, I left Havana pinched between the driver and an accompanying passenger in the front seat of a green 1950s Chevrolet. Beautiful from the outside but quite uncomfortable on the inside - 6 or 7 of us were crammed like sardines in a tin can. Hard seats, no air conditioning, a middle front seat on the 'hump' with no leg room whatsoever and a suspect suspension system all made for an … [Read more...]
5 Essential Things to Do In Downtown LA
Downtown fortunes seem to blow in the wind like so many jazz trumpets. Famous for being as noir as this previous sentence, downtown Los Angeles has seen its share of ups and downs. A formative force in the birth and development of the city, downtown fell into obscurity as places like Hollywood and Venice bloomed thanks to urban sprawl amid growing demand for housing in the city of dreams. In the first part of this millennium, downtown L.A. … [Read more...]
Brazilian Cachaça trip Day Two-Rio Grande do Sul: Casa Bucco and beyond
I bounded out of bed on that second day. It was after 7, later than I’d expected to sleep. I opened the curtains in my room to let in the bright sun. A bright blue, cloudless sky greeted me. Breakfast at the pousada was traditional: a range of cakes, breads, and sandwich makings, as well as fresh fruit, juice, and coffee. With an urge to get on the road, knowing that it would take me almost two hours to reach Casa Bucco, I ate with … [Read more...]
Brazilian Cachaça Trip–Rio Grande do Sul, Day One (cont.): Nova Petropolis
It was late afternoon when I left Weber Haus. On the twisting roads, cars tailgated me. Geez, I get it. You guys like to go fast around tight curves. Small towns appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, with homes and other buildings popping with bright pastel colors. Unfortunately, I couldn’t much turn my head to get a clear glimpse at most of these places, because if I had, I probably would have either gotten rear-ended, or run off the road. It … [Read more...]
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