Blogs

 Photos: David Paul Appell

For many in the United States in particular – and not just those of Irish ancestry – visiting the Emerald Isle is a prime bucket lister. Yet in my nearly 40 years and 65 countries´ worth of travel as an adult, I had never gotten there. I was always interested in “different” – meaning mostly non-English-speaking – cultures, and Ireland had always struck me as somehow bland and uninteresting. That changed this year, as I determined to finally get a taste of the country I

When we booked the "Algarve jeep safari," they promised a tour to the interior to show there was more to Portugal's southernmost region than beaches, bars and golf courses. We passed through remote villages; stopped off at a couple of out-of-the-way places for a coffee break and lunch; visited a distillery; and finally stopped in a cork oak grove, where Tomás our guide gave an interesting presentation.

At home, I usually drink wine in a screwtop bottle. I know there’s a bit of controversy ab