Four years living twenty minutes from Málaga, and Mijas Pueblo was the trip I kept bumping to next month. Everyone who'd been gave me the same rundown of white walls, donkeys, and a coach park. I figured I already had the picture, so why rush it. I finally drove up a few weeks ago thinking I'd give it two hours before lunch back on the coast. I left at 5pm with a list of things I still hadn't got inside. The lift that drops you into the … [Read more...]
Tasting Room Tabs – ePOS Systems in Wine Country, From Napa to the Douro
I’ve lived in Santa Rosa since 2009, and for most of that time I’ve made a living installing till and ordering systems for restaurants and tasting rooms around Sonoma and Napa. It’s not a glamorous job. But it means I’ve stood behind more tasting bars than most sommeliers, usually holding a screwdriver instead of a glass, and I notice how a winery handles its bills long before I notice what’s in the bottle. Wine country is hard on a tab. A … [Read more...]
Porto & the Douro Valley: A Journey Through Wine, Wonders, and Winding Roads
We love when cities inspire us, the perfect combination of visual charm, combined with natural beauty and a product known worldwide (port). The part of Porto located along the banks of the Douro River where it empties into the Mediterranean Sea is almost surreal with its colorful historic buildings lining both sides of the river, beautiful bridges spanning its expanse and major port houses dotting the city. After three weeks of racing around … [Read more...]
Vermillion, South Dakota – October 2026
Located in the far southeast corner of the state in a part of the country the features another very approximate 'four corners' where South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska all come close to meeting. Lewis and Clark on their expedition across the country camped near the site of present day Vermillion. This small town offers plenty of attractions for visitors. Start with a stop in the historic downtown - perhaps for lunch or dinner at the Silk … [Read more...]
Planning a Road Trip Through New Zealand’s South Island Wine Country
There's a certain kind of magic to driving through New Zealand's South Island with nothing but a rental car, a rough itinerary and an appetite for good wine. The island's landscapes shift dramatically from coastal vineyards to alpine valleys, and somewhere in between you'll find some of the most distinctive wine regions on the planet. This isn't a trip you rush. It's one you savor, glass by glass, town by town. A proper wine country road trip … [Read more...]
The Company We Keep
☘️Walking the Ring of Kerry in Ireland☘️ The first character appeared before I had properly begun. It was a horse. We had been walking the Kerry Way for only a day when we encountered it somewhere among the mountains and rain. The path was narrow. The horse was large. We stopped. The horse looked at us. We looked at the horse. He seemed the enthusiastic sort and kept following us. In the end, we took the sensible option and found another … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Guide to Bubble Glamping: Sleeping Under the Stars in the World’s Most Unique Dome Hotels
We have all been there. You pack up the car with a canvas tent, several metal poles that never seem to fit together properly, and a sleeping bag that promises warmth but delivers only damp shivers. You spend an hour fighting the wind in a muddy field, only to realise you forgot the tent pegs. It is a classic British holiday rite of passage, certainly, but it is hardly relaxing. In recent years, a far more elegant alternative has captured the … [Read more...]
Mountain Wave Winery Ningxia, China: Visit & Wine Review
During a recent trip to China, I visited with Melvin, the owner of Mountain Wave Winery. This property is about a 45 minute drive from the center of Yinchuan, the largest city in the immediate region. The property is located on gravelly soils at the base of the Helan mountains in the autonomous region of Ningxia, China. Grapes were first planted on the property in 2016 and the winery was built in 2022/2023. The original vineyard is planted to 2.5 … [Read more...]
Empire Mine, Grass Valley California – August 2026
The 'big dog' was one of California's largest, most productive and longest lasting mines having been founded in 1850 (based on gold found in rock outcroppings on the surface) and remained in operation until 1956 (although it closed temporarily during World War II). This was California's richest hard rock mine. By today's pricing, this mine produced over 8 billion dollars in gold (nearly 6 million ounces). Most associated with the Bourn family, … [Read more...]
Tallinn has Captured my Heart
Tallinn is a city that feels like it’s been sketched from two different dreams: one medieval, one modern. Its Old Town - all cobbled lanes, spired churches and honey‑coloured stone - is a UNESCO‑listed wonder that looks almost too perfect to be real. But step beyond those ancient walls and you’ll find a city pulsing with creativity, digital innovation and a Nordic‑Baltic cool that’s entirely its own. For example, beyond the Old Town lies … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 65
- Next Page »