☘️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 way. Welcome to Ireland The horse was an apt […]

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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 hectares of Pinot Noir, 2.5 hectares of Marselan and 3 […]

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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, (they owned the mine from 1869 until 1929 until it was sold to Newmont Mining who then operated […]

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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 Telliskivi Creative City, Tallinn’s hipster‑industrial playground of street art, indie boutiques, concept stores, craft breweries and […]

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The brutal reality check that hits every backpacker flying from SE Asia into Australia. The barman at the first pub I walked into after dropping my bag slid a schooner across the bar and said nine dollars. I handed over a tenner and stood there waiting for change that wasn’t coming. He’d already moved on. I picked up the glass and did the maths in my head the way you do when you already know the answer isn’t good. Here’s what Southeast Asia does to you. It makes you genuinely […]

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In a town known for craft beer, San Diego’s cider scene is a small (and exciting) alternative Like most of the country, craft cider in San Diego makes up only a small portion of the local beverage scene. But cider is growing in popularity, thanks to its natural lack of gluten, relatively low alcohol content and the fact it’s simply a delicious drink. For what San Diego cideries lack in numbers, they more than make up for with quality, with a diverse array of flavors and finishes to excite even […]

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I landed in Barcelona with a broken suitcase wheel, a dead phone, and absolutely no idea what I was doing. It was my first solo trip to Spain, and I’d spent weeks reading guides that all said the same thing: “Visit the Sagrada Familia before 9 AM for the best lighting.” Helpful? Sure. But not exactly the kind of advice that prepares you for the moment you step out of the metro into a plaza full of strangers, with the Catalan sun on your face and no plan beyond “find food.” Five days […]

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We arrived in at Beijing International, always an overwhelming airport based on its immense girth. But our gate was very close to immigration and we breezed through without much delay as officials kept opening new lanes as the lines swelled from the arriving flights. We discovered a small short-stay airport hotel and without hesitation spent the $40 for a two hour stay. Showers after long flights are one of the best things one can gift one’s body after long flights. Then it was a 15 minute shuttle bus to Terminal […]

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Sébastien Thépénier is a French oenologist and the winemaker behind Vin de Tahiti in Rangiroa, an atoll in French Polynesia. Originally from Burgundy of France, he moved to Tahiti in 2002 to oversee Domaine Dominique Auroy, a pioneering vineyard and wine estate on coral soil in the Pacific. He has since played a central role in developing and refining its unique tropical winemaking. Q. You are originally an oenologist from France. What drew you to come all the way to Rangiroa? I am originally an oenologist from France, trained in […]

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The wind hit the ridge hard enough that I leaned forward to keep my balance. Ahead of me, a narrow path followed the crest of the mountain like a thread pulled tight between two regions of Italy. On one side lay Tuscany. On the other, Emilia-Romagna. As the clouds shifted, a deep blue circle suddenly appeared below the ridge: Lago Scaffaiolo. At that moment it was hard to believe I was still in Tuscany. Most travelers imagine Tuscany as vineyards, medieval villages, and leisurely afternoons tasting wine in the Val […]

The post Tuscany Above the Clouds: A Guide to the Glacial Lakes and Ridges of the Northern Apennines appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

The morning fog clung to the emerald mountains like a lover reluctant to leave. Our jeepney lurched forward on the winding road, and I steadied myself against the metal frame, my knuckles white with anticipation. The province of Apayao had long been a blank space on my mental map of the Philippines—a remote northern frontier that even many Filipinos know little about. This obscurity is precisely what drew me here, to the northernmost reaches of Luzon, where the rugged Cordillera mountain range creates a natural fortress that has sheltered both […]

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Soon after landing in Budapest, a friend and I were promptly held in one of several contiguous rooms. People from other flights kept arriving, ultimately packing us in like sardines. One of the more curious souls decided to go talk to the well-armed security guards. Apparently we were under a lockdown due to a bomb threat and we were being held until security until bomb sniffing dogs had made a careful assessment of the situation. After about an hour, although in our tired state it seemed like 5 hours, the […]

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When most travelers dream of Tuscany, their minds immediately drift to the Val d’Orcia: sun-drenched rolling hills, neat rows of cypress trees, and sprawling vineyards. It is a beautiful image, a classic “Renaissance” landscape that has been manicured by human hands for centuries. But as a professional hiking guide living in this region, I know it is only half the story. If you travel just a short distance north of the famous art cities like Florence or Pistoia, the landscape undergoes a radical transformation. The vineyards disappear, the horizon rises, […]

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The island of Phu Quoc is located in the Gulf of Thailand, located closer to the Cambodia border than the Vietnam border. It is an extremely popular and family friendly destination for tourists due to the fact that unlike mainland Vietnam which requires visas for many nationalities, Phu Quoc offers a visa exemption for citizens of numerous countries. And it is also appealing for its weather, beaches and affordable prices. From Bangkok its an easy 1 hour non stop flight to Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Passengers on my flight were […]

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One stumbles into this town and quickly realizes its significantly different then other small Arkansas farming towns. Located only 45 minutes from downtown Memphis, Wilson is a small town with a very picturesque center (the Wilson Square). Visiting the square almost feels like being on a movie set. Highlights include the Wilson Café, Gunn’s Supermarket (a remarkably well stocked grocery store for a tiny town), White’s Mercantile (owned and operated by Holly Williams, the grand daughter of famous country crooner, Hank Williams senior), The Louis Hotel overlooking Wilson Square, the […]

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