There are the classic wine-making regions: the Rhône Valley, Chianti, Douro and many more. Prestige has often dictated that the most famous and respected vineyards lie within a relatively small corner of Western Europe, with notable exceptions. However, grapes are being grown in some seemingly inhospitable climates and strange locations all over the world. These … Continued
During this sabbatical year in Asia, my husband, George, has inspired me to follow the road less traveled. Over the last seven weeks from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Mumbai (Bombay), we have spent nearly 130 hours on buses and trains traversing and learning about parts of the East and West coasts of India. During the 10- … Continued
Think of the USA and you think of road trips, whether it’s Thelma and Louise, On the Road, Easy Rider, the life-changing journey made in The Grapes of Wrath or even the goody-baddy buddies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or Bonnie and Clyde. They’re all on road trips of one kind or another. … Continued
It’s hard to imagine that twenty years ago, this thronging resort town was a windswept desert settlement, populated by nomadic Bedouin tribes and dominated by a vast, starred sky. The sky remains in Sharm El Sheikh and so do the Bedouin, but it takes a bit of digging to get past the tourist bars, entertainment … Continued
Those of you who have ever been to Ireland, have ever had your grandmothers Irish stew, or tried out some fare from a local pub, know that Irish cuisine can be amongst the most delicious and hardy. Although authentic Irish restaurants serving traditional Irish dishes can sometimes be hard to find, this list will give … Continued
George and I arrived in Yangon at night and took a taxi to the center of town. We had read about many hostels before we left Bangkok, but were not sure where we would stay in Yangon. We did not change money at the airport as the Lonely Planet says not to, but that would … Continued
Tenerife is not the kind of place you would associate with going on a city break but the largest island in the Canaries boasts the stunning city of La Laguna. A UNESCO World Heritage City since 1999, it has undergone extensive work in the past few years to become a lively, cultural, modern city that … Continued
WATCH: Music made from Trash The Landfill Harmonic in Paraguay is an orchestra with incredible spirit and sound. The instruments are all created from recycled materials found in the trash. The story is going to blow your mind. From the movie: People realize that we shouldn’t throw away trash carelessly. Well, we shouldn’t throw away … Continued
From barbies and billabongs, to kangaroos and koalas (hey, I know it should be A to Z, but B to K seemed easier) Australia ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to travelling. The famous carefree Aussie spirit is somehow in keeping with just buying a plane ticket, slinging a backpack on and taking … Continued
Six years ago, on January 18, 2007, I had the best first date of my life. However, the get-together almost did not occur. I signed up for The Onion Personals online site, but George was not a member, having signed up at an affiliate site, Salon. Fate intervened again when an automated email triggered by … Continued