Ah, weddings. Dreams and decisions. White dress, or ivory? Tie and vest, or cravat? 20 guests, or 200? Chapel or castle in Ireland? Really? With some planning a destination wedding in Ireland seals the deal in an amazing country surrounded by centuries of heritage.
More and more brides and grooms, as well as couples renewing their vows, choose to take a different path than the chicken dinner for two hundred, and celebrate with an intimate …
WINDAMERE HOTEL
The elegant Windamere Hotel, surrounded by tea and cardamom estates, is a gracious Colonial gem with grand views of the Himalayas.
Here old rituals of politeness and respect hold sway, where turbaned staff serve afternoon tea in cosy inviting corners in the library or front parlour where books and newspapers are strewn around. The deep Victorian sofas, immense gilded paintings and framed photographs of stiffly posing people is somewhat reminiscent of an elderly …
In the morning for breakfast a café con leche and a croissant is the standard, after lunch a quick cortado, and maybe an espresso in the evening for a little something to tide the hungry over until dinner time. Café culture is an intricate part of Barcelona residents’ socializing and snacking routine and the city has limitless options for a caffeine fix. Standing at the bar or sitting at a smoky table is inevitably the …
If you’re any sort of rock music fan, pack a bag and go to Memphis right now. Get up! Go! Tennessee’s largest city is heralded as the birthplace of rock and roll and it’s the ultimate musical pilgrimage for any music lover to embark upon.
Once you get there, you’ll be walking in the footsteps of great musical trailblazers like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and B.B. King, to name but a few. …
After a few false starts and many growing pains, Punta Cana on the Dominican Republic’s eastern coast, might truly begin living up to the hype of becoming the “new” ultimate tropical vacation destination. Over the past two years, ambitious plans for massive upgrades in existing accommodations, services, and amenities, plus the completion of many luxurious new resorts have successfully come to fruition largely thanks to enthusiastic European and American investors. Lately, the seascape has been …
Quietude is a term unbefitting of Hong Kong, one of Asia’s largest and noisiest cities. But amidst the incessant cacophony of human activity that fuels this bustling metropolis of seven million souls exists a rare oasis of peace and serenity quite at odds with its locale. Nestled among the bamboo and fish ponds of Lantau island, the aptly-named Trappist Haven monastery provides pure sanctuary from the decibel-defying roar of the densely populated city.
The largest …
The next time you find yourself in a European church or cathedral, there is someone you should see. Forget “The DaVinci Code”. A real puzzle stares at you from the walls, architecture, and furnishings throughout these old places of worship. The mysterious Green Man, a carved foliate face from ancient times, appears in various guises and apparently independently, all over the world. His best known and most accessible incarnations are found – by the thousands …
If you’re ever about to be attacked by a lion, don’t just stand there shaking – run directly towards it flapping your arms wildly and making a massive hullabaloo.
Shall I repeat that, just in case you can’t quite get to grips with the concept? Don’t try to run, because this is one race you aren’t going to win. Your only chance of survival is to scare the lion more than it scares you, says …
On a glorious spring trip to Paris when the “Davinci Code “ movie was first coming out, I was able to take an incredible walking tour based off of the novel by Dan Brown. Our guide was an American who relocated to Paris when her husband received a job offer to live and work in France. I was green with envy because I thought it was a grand opportunity for both of them to …
Stop and smell the mustard on your own version of Spring Break this year. Smell the mustard?
Mustard is blooming in Napa Valley…stark vines stand out among the neon yellow at their feet. Great photos…even better wines. With about 400 wineries in the Napa area alone, this is one of the best times of the year to visit. Less tourists than summer means more personalized attention from winery owners and winemakers.
Make sure you do …
The dream of skiing in St. Moritz, Europe’s winter glam capital, seems impossibly expensive to most of us. Yet this unbridled wealthy Swiss mountain village, where furs predominate, caviar is sold in supermarkets and snow-chained Bentley’s jockey with Porsche’s for parking, is affordable, very affordable – the trick is knowing where to look, and when to go.
From Zurich airport take the little red train, which gently threads through the Swiss Alps, gently clickedy-clacking higher …
The thought of India evokes many images to travelers, but none more iconic than the majestic Taj Mahal. Although this wonder of the world is a relevant and magnificent site on the tourism circuit, consider adding a dash of adventure to your Indian experience. India’s diverse landscape and climate make it an exciting destination for adventure activities, including trekking, rafting, scuba diving, camel expeditions, and skiing. Additionally, India remains one of the most affordable destinations …
Hidden in the Baztan Valley near the southwestern French border and a few miles away from the pristine shores of the Bay of Biscay, sits a little village with a big secret. Removed from the bustle of the Basque Country’s San Sebastian and the glitz of Biarritz, Zugarramurdi is a tranquil town where not too much has happened in the last four-hundred years.
This lush area of Navarra is an ideal blend of French, Spanish …
Most folks have heard about the resort town of Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja, but not many people are familiar with the very small jewel of an island called Isla Espiritu Santo. This precious island is located in the Sea of Cortez about 2 hours by boat from the town of La Paz off the eastern coast of the Baja peninsular.
Back in January 1990 the Nature Conservatory acquired…
