After 600 years, the Antinori Family, arguably Italy's most well-known wine family opened their newest estate winery to the public in early 2013 (by appointment). The cellar is located about 25 minutes from Florence and 30 minutes from Siena. While this is a large winery (67,000 square feet), its physical footprint is barely seen because the entire winery and parking facilities are located underground and are built into the side of a hill. The … [Read more...]
A Grape Grows in Myanmar
The vines of Burgundy, Tuscany and Napa Valley produce some of the world’s most polished pours. While you can use many superlatives to describe these oenophile’s Disneyland, it’s a stretch of the imagination to describe any of these famed wine-producing regions as undiscovered. While Myanmar is no threat to Bordeaux as the next global grape deity, I was surprised that any wine at all is being produced here. The pagoda-laden landscape may not … [Read more...]
Four Days in Italy
In March or April of 2003 I received a registered letter from the Israeli lottery telling me I had won a four day trip to Rome for my wife and myself, which included travel, the hotel—bed and breakfast. Tours and entertainment, which looked very enticing, were extra. We didn’t know if we’d ever visit Italy again, so I signed on immediately for the whole kit and caboodle. The travel company invited all the winners down to their offices in Tel … [Read more...]
Everett Potter – Travel Journalist
Everett Potter is an accomplished journalist who has written for and currently writes for major publications. He also manages the well-regarded site, Everett Potter’s Travel Report. Besides his writing prowess he is an accomplished speaker. I was reminded of his career and work when I spotted one his articles "Snowshoes, a Love Story" in the January-March 2016 edition of the Ritz-Carlton Magazine. I reached out to him and these are his … [Read more...]
Here Be Dragons: The “Sacred Terror” of the Alps of Switzerland
"Placed on this planet since yesterday, and only for a day, we can only hope to glimpse the knowledge that we will probably never attain." -Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, 1796 Dateline: Mount Pilates, Switzerland I've penned a few books that have been placed in the category of "wilderness travel." But perhaps the first to stock this shelf was the eighteenth-century mountaineer Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, who wrote in his opus, Voyages … [Read more...]
Another Day of Caribbean Island Hopping
I began my morning in the brand new Antigua International Airport on my way to Princess Juliana Airport in Sint Maarten. To call an airport 'International' in most of these small Caribbean Islands is probably redundant as most of the airports have flights connecting to other Caribbean Islands. Princess Juliana Airport is well known for Maho Beach, a small strip of sand that lies at the foot of the runway where sun bathers look up at times … [Read more...]
Los Braceros: The Root of the Gourmet Kitchen
The octopus arrived at our table on a plate illustrated with the two hands of the many workers who helped produce this gorgeous dish. At Bracero Cocina de Raiz in San Diego, Baja cuisine advocate Chef Javier Plascencia invites guests to witness and celebrate the efforts of all the workers—including produce pickers, grapevine pruners, and fishermen—who help them produce such incredibly creative and flavorful dishes in a Mexican style completely … [Read more...]
My Time Exploring Tunis, Tunisia
I did not think twice of going to Tunisia for holiday. But then I had to wade through the thick flotsam of fear about the warped realities of travel to Tunisia I encountered when I informed people I was going to this country. Ultimately this fear messed with my psyche and did so until I was on my final flight to Tunis when I finally was able to relax. But such was my luck the night I arrived - a suicide bomber killed himself and 12 other … [Read more...]
A Restful Night’s Sleep on a Stearns & Foster Mattress
Earlier this year I was introduced to a Stearns & Foster Mattress with a stay in the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. This particular Fairmont is located on top of Nob Hill which already gives you nice views of parts of San Francisco simply based on the elevation. However one can be treated to more spectacular views by staying in a room on one of their uppermost floors. Visually I feasted on memorable views from the 14th floor overlooking Coit … [Read more...]
Handcrafted San Francisco Experience + Giveaway, Stearns & Foster + Jetsetter
It had been a few years since I had spent any time in San Francisco; during my prior visits it always seemed like the city was blanked in fog - not so this trip. Apparently some of the best months to visit San Francisco are in September and October, when the fog often stays at bay and and visitor's are greeted by beautiful sunshine. This was a handcrafted trip arranged by Stearns & Foster to experience some memorable moments in San Francisco … [Read more...]
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