It’s not always easy to be eco-friendly or sustainable when running a business, especially in a country like Costa Rica, which sets the bar high for ecotourism.
Costa Rica essentially pioneered the flourishing ecotourism trend nearly two decades ago. Since then, with the many stringent demands of its Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, it takes a great deal of commitment, hard work and dedication to authentically be a sustainable eco-friendly business.
We often hear about the fabled Route 66 in the United States; the latest offering I’ve seen is the excellent TV series describing comedian Billy Connolly’s ride along it. In England, we also have our ‘Route 66’ … nothing like as long, but maybe one day, someone will make a TV programme about it?
The A66 road over the Pennines is one of England’s main transport routes. Originally running from Scotch Corner, on the main London-Edinburgh road to Penrith, in Cumbria, it’s now been extended to the
Grand Cru, Medoc, St Émilion, Bordeaux Left and Right Banks - all terms of which I was aware, but wanted much more information. That’s the beauty of a river cruise with wine as its main topic (and the wine isn’t bad either, to put it mildly!). We were about to embark on an eight-day UniWorld boutique wine river cruise along the Garonne River - an area settled by ancient Romans and once ruled by the English, but every bit a French region.
Each evening of the cruise started by imbibing in the "
by Cristóbal Ramírez
You’ll barely hear a sound, except maybe for the wind and the waves. For there’s a side to Central America’s southernmost country, away from its famous Panama Canal and the bustling streets and towering skyline of capital Panama City, that still looks and feels much the way Christopher Columbus must have experienced it back in 1502. Here are four such paradises where you can unplug:
Islas de las Perlas
The Pearl Islands archipelago is absolutely stunning for the colour
It was exciting to stop by the Wonder 500™ Project exhibition pop-up at Exhibition Hall (4-16 West 43rd Street) to experience Japan in New York City!
Daily traditional tea and sweet tastings enhance your experience as you peruse the 500 unique Japanese products –
both edible and utilitarian -- on display and for purchase, only through February 9. Many of these items are unfamiliar outside of Japan.
Items from all 47 Japanese prefectures were selected by 30 of the country's top producer
| Welcome to the French Quarter! |
As I wandered the streets of the Vieux Carré (aka the French Quarter) on my recent visit I was so thankful that it had survived after Hurricane Katrina a decade ago. What a tragedy it would have been to lose all of this – this history, this architecture, this joie de vivre that is New Orleans, Louisiana (sometimes dubbed NOLA). It is not nicknamed "the Big Easy" for nothing!
| Window dressing |
I had been to New Orleans twice before – both times pre-Katrina. It had been
Villa of Gabriele D’Annunzio
A Surprise Discovery in Gardone Rivera
We selected the town of Gardone Rivera, on the shores of Lake Garda, because of its proximity to the Sirmione Peninsula and the archaeological site of well preserved Roman ruins.
We usually plan some “open time” in our travel itineraries to allow us some flexibility during a visit to a new area to explore an interesting town, or museum, or just take a spontaneous side trip.
The Vittoriale Degli Italiani (Shrine of Italian Vict
My dining extravaganza began with a spinning salad as dressing was poured from high above and the bowl spun in a mesmeric rotation. I tried to finish my salad until being distracted by the silver cart brought tableside and loaded with slow roasted prime rib roasts.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills, California, opened in 1938 and has a loyal clientele in its many locations. Known for the “old school” service, female servers wear pressed uniforms, big bows and head pieces to compliment th
Diving in Colomitos Cove
For the last decade, I have been fortunate enough to live a dual life, residing both in California and in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is where I call home during the winter months, as well as part of the summer.
My favorite month in Puerto Vallarta is the month of July. Many travelers stay away from Mexico in the summer months, as it is hot and humid and these are the months when the rains come. July to me is the perfect month to be on the Pacific side of Mexico. Less crowded
It’s the new year, and that means it’s time for Costa Rica’s summer festival season! Known for their gregarious, fun-loving style, Costa Ricans’ enthusiasm is contagious when the country celebrates its numerous fiestas, festivals and horse parades from January to April. Plan your travel to Costa Rica to experience these fun cultural events with rich local traditions, tasty cuisine and vibrant music. Besides the main festivals, every town and community has its own “turno” (a country fair) to enj
Tunisia, North Africa is a hospitable country where you'll find people who do not skimp on paying attention to visitors at every turn. Their Berber roots are what have taught them that a good cup of tea cheers up and relaxes the weariest of travelers. But in addition, Tunisia has excellent beaches of white sand and transparent waters; a mild climate; green valleys full of flowers; charming oases with refreshing palm groves; golden sand dunes; delicious dates; captivating handcrafts; and excitin
New York is the city that never sleeps, a vibrant, bustling town where it is always possible to grab a drink and swap stories with your friends. Millions of tourists flock to New York every year to soak up the atmosphere and see the plethora of world famous sights; such as the Statue of Liberty.
However, whether you are visiting or live in this glorious city; there will be a time when you need to simply get away, unwind and take life at a slightly slower pace. Thankfully, there are many destina
"Mixed-plate dining" is a term often used in Hawaii, and the meaning is interesting and has a history. Going back to the 1800’s, sugar was the top crop on the island of Maui. Whaling days were gone and immigrant workers arrived to work the plantation fields. Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Filipinos cooked their native foods and shared them during lunch time in the fields. The mixed plate was the workers steady diet and lunch was a highlight during their backbreaking labor.
Korean ribs, teriyak
Talk about aircraft naturally means talking about aircraft speed. That after all is the element that creates the airflow which in passing across the fuselage wings generates the lift needed to propel a passenger-filled machine weighing dozens of tonnes through the sky.
It's not surprising, therefore, that when referring to aircraft speed, for pilots and engineers it's actually a matter of not one but various speeds. The instrument used (once exclusvely, and still primarily) to measure aircraft
Driving into Newfane, Vermont means you're visiting an authentic village in the Green Mountain State. This isn't a ski mountain town or a faux village artificially inflated with outside money. This is a town with a working storefront grocery store, white clapboarded church, and meeting house flanked by historic homes surrounding the town green. Walking the village takes no more than 15 minutes but its character and scenic charm is undeniable. Residents stack firewood, do their own home improvem
Atenas, Costa Rica, is a small city (pop. 27,000) that's a 45-minute drive from capital San José and also convenient to many other attractions in the Central Valley. It also happens to be unusually popular with foreign expatriates – about 1,500 year-round and up to 3,000 in winter months (and because of this as well as being a San José bedroom community), it it boasts an unusual number of great restaurants for its size - a good several dozen.
Here is a sampling of some of the favorite restau
The Wildest Mountain Alive, a Mike Tierney painting that has been named the best representation of the spirit of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, captures the essence of this exciting winter resort, with its dollops of snow; peaks and steep walls; a 4,100-foot vertical; and mix of groomed and untamed terrain. My nephew won a Powder Magazine award for a riveting descent of the cliffs outside the resort boundaries and a month later he blew out his knee, but he still loves Jackson. My wife and I do, too.
Fi
Memphis is one of the more famous places in the USA, it's located in the southwest of Tennessee and is both the largest city in the state and the largest city on the mighty Mississippi River. The city was founded in 1819, although there are records of humans having lived in this spot for many hundreds of years prior.
The city has a rich and varied history which is entwined with the Mississippi and its use as a vital link to the commercial world. Now, the river is not just a commercial asset bu
(credit: Stuart Monk/Shutterstock)
Foodie or a thrill-seeker or romantic soul - the city and county of San Francisco tour has something for everybody. The sun, the warmth, the fog, the landscape and the architecture makes San Francisco a traveler's delight. Be it your first-time visit or a return to renew the memories, this city will never cease to amaze you.
City Buzz: Things to Remember
We began this adventure by purchasing a Porsche Macan S and picking the car up at the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen Germany. This is our “official” inaugural road trip, and this segment of the series is dedicated to our adventures while touring the Lago di Garda area in the lake country of northern Italy.
The Drive from Bolzano to Lago di Garda
We departed Bolzano for a two and a half hour straight-shot drive to Lago di Garda. About an hour out we approached a major decision point and road
