Blogs

For those of you celebrating a joyous occasion whether a birthday, an anniversary or just a night out to chill with friends, there can be no better place than The Rock Bar at Ayana Resort & Spa in Bali. Built in 2009 and situated on natural rocks 14 meters above the Jimbaran Bay, it was truly a breath-taking view and the ultimate way to usher in my big 3-0 celebrations.

This innovative open-top bar is perched at the base of Ayana’s towering cliffs and is definitely Bali’s most glamorous sunset a

Starting in August, the tranquil blue waters of the Golfo Dulce, between the Piedras Blancas National Park and the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica, will witness one of the most amazing spectacles in the animal kingdom – the thousands-of-miles-long migration of Pacific Humpback Whales.

The annual migration of endangered Pacific Humpback Whales is a remarkable journey of nearly 10,000 miles from near the North and South Poles to warm tropical waters to breed and give birth. As winter turns the

por Cristóbal Ramírez 

Es el río más vitivinícola de España, aunque no por eso tiene un tono rojizo. El Duero dibuja una ruta por los diferentes hitos bodegueros, pero también por pueblos de piedra, iglesias, museos, paisajes tranquilos y fiestas populares. Y todo regado por esos tintos y rosados que nos traen (no se sabe cómo) paz de espíritu. La denominación de origen Ribera del Duero recorre el corazón geográfico de Castilla y León y el corazón geográfico de la Península Ibérica a lo largo de 

There it was, high up inside the 12th century bell tower of the church of Saint-Emilion...evidence that there are some things that never change. Names and dates are carved into the ancient limestone, where people throughout the centuries have left their mark and, thereby, have become a part of the history of a medieval village.

http://objectsblog.com/

Many of us occasionally yearn for a quiet ride into the countryside “far from the madding crowd” to escape and just breathe for a bit. Sometimes something different and unique is found along the way and we discovered just such a find in Bacon’s Castle. Getting to Bacon’s Castle is quite unique as you can follow each shore of the historic James River and arrive there. Follow picturesque Route 5 along the north shore to Wiilliamsburg or via Route 31 on the south shore. Ah one might say how does o

We didn’t stay very long in Narvik. No sooner had our cruise ship tied up, than we were on to a bus to the railway station. Our objective was a scenic ride on the Otofen Railway. . It doesn’t seem to receive as much publicity as other scenic routes in Norway, probably because it’s operated by Swedish Railways.

The port and the railway owe their existence to the discovery of iron ore in 1902 in Kiruna, in Sweden. It was a convenient port from which to ship the ore, rather than convey it all the wa

When you think New Mexico, do you think skiing?  Georgia O’Keefe?  Hatch chilies?  Sunsets over red rock? John Wayne in the Rio Grande?  Or, perhaps, Tempranillo, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling?  Visit a New Mexico Winery, and you just may forget Mr. Wayne, or at least, enjoy him with a refreshing Riesling.  

Franciscan monks began growing wine grapes in New Mexico around 1630, just a decade after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth a continent away.  By the late 1800’s, New Mexico had more

You’ve no doubt been to or at least have heard about the Yucatan Peninsula’s wondrous Maya archaeological sites like Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal. But did you know that Mexico’s most famous beach resort, Cancun, boasts a mini-me version of these mighty sites? Las Ruinas del Rey ("the Ruins of the King") are easily accessible right off the hotel zone’s main drag, Boulevard Kukulkan, just south of the hotel zone on the way to/from the airport.

Dating to around 300 BC and now open daily during

There's no doubt that Budapest is a magnificent place: a city of contrasts, of beautiful bridges and medieval architecture. But Hungary is of course far more than just its capital. There is a lesser known side of the country which, if you can, you should not miss the chance to explore.

For example, in northeast Hungary is the Pannonhalma Monastery, a World Heritage Site founded over a thousand years ago.  You can see deep marks left by the passage of time upon its facade, which is an eclectic

Costa Rica is making news in 2014 – from the thrilling World Cup 2014 playoffs in Brazil to the United Nations recognizing several historic sites in southern Costa Rica for World Heritage status.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added four pre-Colombian sites located in the southern region of Costa Rica to its list of World Heritage locations at the end of June 2014.

The archeological sites of Finca 6, Batambal, El Silencio, and Grijalba-2 in the Diquís

Often referred to as Hawaii’s “Garden Island,” Kaua‛i is a lush tropical paradise of towering cloud-crested green summits. The island has 50-miles of sandy beaches perpetually polished by translucent waves. It was undoubtedly the perfect island for the legendary St. Regis brand to open one of their unparalleled luxury resorts. 

Behold the majestic north shore

The Hawaiian St. Regis Resort at Princeville is surrounded by five verdant mountains overlooking the beautiful Hanalei Valley and the brea

You won't find the quirky side of Baltimore at Fort McHenry (1793), which recently celebrated the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner". You might not find it at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the National Aquarium, or in neighborhoods like the Inner Harbor, either, where glittering condos and fab restaurants spring up every day. But don't you worry: The Divine [sic] spirit of Hairspray's John Waters, Edgar Allen Poe, and other famously eccentric and offbeat Baltimoreans

por Cristóbal Ramírez

En Düsseldorf se creen un poco latinos: aquí no hace tanto frío como en otras zonas deAlemania y los lugareños se lanzan a la calle en cualquier momento. Ese carácter dicharachero y de compartir experiencias con los demás se nota en Navidad y en febrero, cuando el Carnavalllena de color, desfiles y bailes el centro de la ciudad. Aquí gustan mucho los bares. Por algo a Düsseldorf la llaman “la barra más larga del mundo”.

Puede que a un español le parezca un tanto exagerado

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join a group for a guided tour of the Pierre Cardin Museum, located in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Ouen. Organized by the Saint-Ouen tourist office, the visit represented an opportunity to take a peek into the world of high fashion.

The tour was given by Renée Taponier, who is not only conservator of the museum, but also the personal assistant of the great fashion designer himself. Her manner of presentation is informal and upbeat. Most importantly, she

You have got to go here...Funky Seattle, Wash.

Are you visiting Seattle?  I have a mini blog just for you!  Here are three funky places in Seattle that you may have not thought about visiting, but they are a must!

1. Volunteer Park

Why? Lush green lawns, beautiful flowers, walking trails, history, museums, amazing views of the city - need I say more?

2. The Fremont Troll

Why?  A troll under a bridge - who can resist that?

3. Post Alley Gum Wall (Pike Place Market)

Why? It is truly is a piece of art.  S

LosMocanos.com

Few cultural forms are more associated with the Dominican Republic than merengue music and the brisk, shuffling, hip-wagging dance that goes with it (no one’s exactly sure where the name comes from – sweet, frothy beaten egg whites or the “mareng” or “méringue” music of neighboring Haiti).  Going back more than 150 years, like tango in Argentina it once scandalized the prim and proper because of its ribald lyrics and sexy moves. Well, that’s sure as heck a thing of the past – see

I often miss the delightful ignorance of childhood, when the most important things in life were the simple pleasures of life itself.  We keep those memories somewhere in the archives of our brains, to be brought out occasionally by specific triggers such as smell and sound.  Our childhood friends were the best we ever had.  Most of us have people we take for granted, they’re called “parents”. It’s almost expected of that ignorance to limit our ability to appreciate.  But as we grow up, we realiz

The tiny nature reserve at the extreme southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica seems too pretty and unassuming to have changed history, though it did.

The Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve – Costa Rica’s first privately protected reserve – put the ecotourism capital of the world on the path to protecting the country’s natural resources.

It all started in 1960, when Swede Nicolas Wessberg (known as Olaf or Olle) and his Danish wife Karen Mogensen bought a farm near the town of Montezum

Choosing seven wonders of the world seems like a very difficult task. Just like choosing seven wonders in a single country. The year 2008 saw the foundation of an internet movement to select the seven wonders of Brazil. The result of this selection is not very clear, so, here, we propose something more substantive and real in the country: a visit to the locations declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

CULTURAL

Christ the Redeemer (1938), Rio de Janeiro

This 38-meter-tall image of Jesus of Nazareth