Tag Archives: Travel
Top 5 Sights to See in Turin (OneTravel)
Probably the nicest thing about any visit to Turin, Italy is simply having the opportunity to wander round the narrow lanes of the old city and happening upon its majestic galleries and long covered walkways. From elegant and antiquated cafes … Continue reading
Ancient Frescos and Fresh Mountain Air in Trento, Italy (CheapOair)
With a newly opened museum designed by star architect Renzo Piano; a distinctive sparkling wine with a rich tradition behind it; an exquisite regional gastronomy that’s big on flavour; and of course a stunning backdrop of snowcapped mountains, the lively … Continue reading
Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Antica Corte Pallavicina
Just outside the blink-and-miss-it village of Polesine Parmense, Antica Corte Pallavicina is a gorgeously restored 14th century castle situated on the banks of the Po that’s been transformed into a six room boutique hotel with Michelin starred restaurant. As refined as it is rustic, the venue is the result nearly two decades of dedication by local chef Massimo Spigaroli (whose other Michelin starred restaurant, Al Cavallino Bianco is located in the same village). Dining at Pallavicina was a sumptuous affair, yielding one of the loveliest meals I’ve had this year. Knowing that practically everything I put in my mouth came from here and was made onsite made all the more tasty. Continue reading
Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: November Porc
Celebrating a decade since its inception, November Porc is a month long foodie festival held every weekend during (yep you guessed it) November with each weekend seeing the party move to a different village in the Province of Parma. If the idea of visiting Torino was the impetus to planning my trip, the possibility of attending one of the November Porc weekends was what led to designing my actual itinerary and coming up with its broad “Ham Highway” theme. Continue reading
Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: a-MuSe-ing and Bubbly Trento
After an all too short sojourn in Friuli (God, I hope I make it back there before too long), I hit the autostrada heading west to the region of Trentino for an overnight stay to see what sort of wonders its scenic city of Trento had to offer. With a newly opened museum designed by a star architect; a distinctive sparkling wine with a rich tradition behind it; and an exquisite regional gastronomy that’s big on flavour, locally sourced ingredients and seasonality – the answer I soon discovered was A LOT! Continue reading
Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Delectable Collio Goriziano
With the charming Udine as my base for a couple of days, I spent an afternoon in the nearby wine country of Collio Goriziano visiting a wine producer and cheese maker, both of whom had been recommended to me … along with finding out about a local ham maker whom I wish I’d had the chance to meet. Here’s the scoop on what makes this little nook of northern Italy such a yummy destination. Continue reading
Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Udine
Udine is the hub and historical capital of the small Friuli Veneza Giulia province of the same name. With a sizeable university, it’s a lively setting with an interesting mix of people and pretty decent nightlife. If you’ve been to your share of checklist-y must-see Italian destinations (such as … oh let’s say … Florence) or you simply get a kick out off veering off the beaten path in an attempt to see what real life in a foreign country is like then Udine is a brilliant town to keep in mind. Continue reading
Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Speck-tacular Views and Smoky Brews in Sauris
Day two of my foodie odyssey had me saying goodbye to the Dolomite gateway town of Forni di Sopra and heading even higher (and deeper) into the Alps to the tiny Germanic enclave of Sauris for a taste of the local delicacies and to take in the sweeping views – all of which elicited some form of audible and involuntary whoa or wow from an overwhelmed me. Continue reading
Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Ciao and Grazie!
Over the next several days I will share highlights from my adventure in a Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway miniseries of posts featuring entries about the following phenomenal destinations – Forni di Sopra, Sauris, San Daniele, Udine, Collio, Trento, Torino, Parma, Modena, and Bologna – all with tips and suggestions to help you plan your own delectable itinerary. Continue reading
Georgians Revealed at the British Library in London (OneTravel)
A newly opened exhibition at the British Library in London – Georgians Revealed: Life, Style and the Making of Modern Britain – takes an in depth look at the lives of people living in Britain during the Georgian era (roughly the early 1700s to … Continue reading
London’s Top Christmas Markets (OneTravel)
December is a fantastic time to visit London, offering a healthy dose of Christmas cheer that’s unparalleled. Here’s a roundup of the city’s best Christmas markets to help you fa la la your way to an excellently English Christmas. Read … Continue reading
How to Have a Merry Christmas in Mexico City (CheapOair)
Visiting Mexico City in December? From Catholic traditions with an Aztec edge to ice skating in one of the world’s most historic plazas and even catching a live NBA match, you’re guaranteed a feliz Navidad. Here are just a few … Continue reading
How to Make Merry Like Robin Hood in Nottingham and Sherwood Forest (CheapOair)
I’m writing this post from the back end of a fantastic day trip to Nottinghamshire. Only about a 140 miles or so from Central London, Nottingham and its environs are an ideal destination to add to any England touring itinerary. History … Continue reading
Product Review: Heat Holder Socks (CheapOair)
Ever spent a whole day away from home with cold feet? I’m not being metaphorical and talking about being too shy or afraid to enjoy yourself. I mean being uncomfortable because you’re not wearing the right socks for the weather. … Continue reading
4 of Madrid’s Best Blogs (CheapOair)
Madrid! It’s a regal and quintessentially Spanish city with plenty of fun to offer her guests. Here’s a list of four of Madrid’s top blogs (in English) to help you make the most of your travel plans to Spain, help … Continue reading
Discovering Richard III’s England in Leicester (OneTravel)
Only about a hundred miles away of London or Manchester with historic and scenic destinations such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Nottingham and Oxford even closer than that (this area of Britain is what’s referred to as the Midlands, afterall), Leicester and its … Continue reading
Sampling China’s Gourmet Foods (CheapOair)
Home to one of the world’s most beloved and distinctive cuisines, China offers globetrotting foodies a chance to dine in fine style without blowing the budget. Here’s a tasty breakdown of what to go for when traveling in China and … Continue reading
Road Hog/Road Blog
As bigger and better opportunities involving travel come my way, I find myself blogging from the road. Often finding myself in settings that are incredibly scenic but not necessarily ideal for writing or publishing meaningful content online, I’m learning to adapt to my life on-the-go as I try to maintain the same level of consistency and quality (I hope!) as when I was a more static blogger. Continue reading
Two Exhibitions – Old and New – at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace (OneTravel)
Two seemingly tenuously tied exhibitions have just opened at The Queen’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace – Castiglione: Lost Genius and Gifted: From the Royal Academy to The Queen – offering visitors a chance to see some of the Royal Collections … Continue reading
7 Days in China (CheapOair)
Coming up with an itinerary for a full week in China can prove tricky. Obviously, China’s a big country with plenty to offer travelers of all tastes and budgets. Whether you’re looking for urban delights, rural retreats or something somewhere … Continue reading
How to Chow Down Like a Houston Food Blogger (CheapOair)
Houstonians are a proud bunch, especially when it comes to their great BBQ, Tex-Mex and fine Southern cooking. Of course these days, this world class city is home to just about any cuisine you could hanker for. For a local scoop of what’s yummiest, have a look at this quartet of superb Houston food blogs and see how long you last before you’re craving for a taste of east Texas. Continue reading
Theatre Review: Richard III at Nottingham Playhouse
With only a week left in Nottingham before it moves on to York, here’s my review of the Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company and York Theatre Royal’s joint presentation of Shakespeare’s tragic story of a conniving and paranoid king, Richard III. Continue reading
Destination Dining: Seymour Place near Marble Arch in London (OneTravel)
Just up the street from Hyde Park, Marble Arch, Park Lane and Oxford Street, tiny Seymour Place offers a long list of great places to eat. So whether you’re out sightseeing or shopping or looking for somewhere to step out … Continue reading
Top 10 London Restaurants for High Rise Dining (CheapOair)
High rise dining is a relatively new consideration for London, which aside for a few grand exceptions is a rather low rise city. Still with multi-storey towers such as The Shard and Heron Tower opening in the past few years, breaking bread with a breathtaking view of the city’s historic landscape is more possible and desired than ever. Here’s a list of the ten place restaurants for eating out and up in London. Continue reading
Richard III, Robin Hood and Me: An East Midlands Mini-Break
Last week, I headed up to Leicester and Nottingham for an overnight press trip. I had a blast letting loose my inner armchair historian around Leicester and getting to live out some childhood fantasies in Nottingham and nearby Sherwood Forest. Here are some highlights from my East Midlands mini-break. Continue reading
7 Things You Didn’t Know about Mexico City (CheapOair)
Not only is Mexico City one of the biggest cities in the world. It’s also one of the most fascinating. Here are a handful of quirky facts about Mexico City and why it’s such a dynamic destination. Mexico City has … Continue reading
5 Fine Blogs from Indy (OneTravel)
Heading to Indianapolis soon? Get the local scoop on what’s doing from these prolific scenesters’ popular blogs. From football, family outings, restaurants reviews and more – here are five blogs with the low down on what makes this Midwest city … Continue reading
Voodoo Shops in New Orleans’ French Quarter (CheapOair)
Voodoo. How much of its mysterious traditions are hokey hype and how much genuine religious practice? There’s no better place to find out for yourself than in New Orleans, where the legend, the kitsch and the reality of Voodoo collide for a fascinatingly spooky gumbo. Continue reading










