Please take this article with a grain of salt . . and perhaps more than a little fairy dust. It was, after all, posted on April 1, 2022 - April Fool's Day in many countries, so it could just be the handiwork of some staff writer who is overtly playful or has a grudge against…
What could possibly go wrong? We would imagine that most of our readers have - at least once - dreamt of a wine holiday. Most of the world's vineyards feature rolling hills, expansive vistas, good roads and - of course - wine stops. Of course, this is not a good idea in a car, but…
When one thinks of the Lord of the Rings, it's usually singing the praises of those diminutive characters that fill the timeless stories and our ever-present appetites to see the films again, visit the locations where the films were created, and praying to the Pharoahs that Peter Jackson might gift us with more of his…
When you travel, you never know what to expect, even when you scour the web, brochures and videos. It's full of surprises. But sometimes first impressions may not be accurate. So, when we recently visited Peru, we stayed in a variety of places, of all types. Some were supremely outfitted with beautiful…
By this point in 2020, I'm sure we're all ready to just blast off this planet — or at least I am. Not to mention, after recent news broke that potential life has been detected on Venus, I wouldn't mind poking around up there. I guess the main dilemma is that I wouldn’t really have anywhere…
From ordering food to using Google Maps indoors, you'll use these tips daily. You use Google Maps on your Android or iPhone to check commute times on your way to work and find new restaurants to try out on the weekends -- but if you're only using the Maps app for the basics, you're missing…
Who here knows of Langkawi? It's in Malaysia and it's a treat to all of the senses. Known as the Jewel of Kedah, Langkawi is a treasure trove of natural wonders. Escape the city life and cruise along the waters of the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark, or discover the diverse wildlife in the park…
We are who we are, like it or not. And we have every right to be that way, like it or not. And if some people have a problem with that, get used to it. Gay people are still having problems simply being themselves, even though being themselves has been part of the…
Vancouver, Canada, is not a particularly old city. You might see some buildings from the late 1800's, but mostly it's 1970's family homes and high-rise apartments. We were driving down the street the other day in Vancouver, and passed this hotel / motel that we hadn't seen before, the 2400 Motel. We…
We're sure that more than a few of our readers are avid scuba divers, and we'll bet that even more would like to be. Read on, as we have some great options Pioneered by Jacques Cousteau in the 1940s, scuba can be meditative and zen or thrilling and dynamic. Moving weightlessly in three…
Here's an unusual, but at the end of the day explainable question. Why, if they're part of the EU (European Union) the Czechs don't use the Euro? It's the official currency of 19 of the 27 member states of the European Union and and over 340 million Europeans. The rest of the EU…
We imagine that some of you are real adventurers. You've seen the Eiffel Tower more times than you'd care to count (as spectacular as it is.) But, your quest for travel and new experiences always keeps you thirsty for a place that, perhaps, not many people have heard of. And, with that,…
Roll out the barrel, and we'll have a barrel of fun says polka master Frankie Yankovic. But in this case, we're talking about real drinking (tequila) in a real barrel (where you will sleep.) You may even do both in the same place. Can you think of anything more perfect? The Matices…
If you're a regular reader, you'll know how much we love old. Old buildings, ancient sites, historical locations. When you think of how many of these incredible places are hundreds of years old, and they still function, live and thrive. And then, give a pause to those that were destroyed or simply…
The force is strong, young one. It’s been 45 years since the first Star Wars blew us all away in theaters, and the impact and memories of that first film (and many of the others) are an embedded part of the psyches of most generations, worldwide. Classics do not pay justice to the film franchise.…
By Patricia Filipovic, Senior writer So, you're going on an international vacation! You've figured out your budget and picked a place that should fall within said budget. Planned the itinerary and set a date. What else needs doing? What can you do beforehand to prepare?My travel mantra: Prepare for the unexpected. But mitigate wherever…
Not to pick on any particular travel company: if you think about it, can you imagine the logistical nightmares that airlines and cruises have to contend with on a daily basis? Sure, most have been doing this for years, but can they really plan for each eventuality, especially when there are so many moving…
Sometimes, you just need to fight. But, sometimes you need to know when to quit. Here's an example. Dublin Airport received over 12,200 noise complaints from a single person in 2021, which totals nine out of ten of all complaints received by the airport: that's over 90% of all complaints. The…
If you've never done it before, it can be daunting to take your first solo trip in your 40s, but plenty of people are doing exactly that. The stereotypical image of the solo traveller may be the pre-university gap year student, but these days the biggest solo travel growth demographic is the over-35s. We've spoken…
If you're the shy type, then you might want to look away now. This article is about naturism. Naturism is a lifestyle of practising non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms are broadly interchangeable, nudism emphasizes…