Ever seen the old Sean Connery movie The Name of the Rose, or read the historical novel by Umberto Eco? If not, I highly recommend them. And it’s just their mysterious, mystical atmosphere of the Middle Ages that you’ll find in some of the most evocative...
Though Spain’s Euskadi (Basque) region is known for its distinctive culture, cuisine, and exciting cities such as Bilbao and San Sebastián (aka Donostia), this lovely swath of the country’s green north is also packed with enchanting natural allures. One of the most magical, just a...
Heads up, eco-lovers, here’s an extra-special treat! Of all the woodlands around the planet, “cloud forests” are among the rarest, making up just 1 percent of the total. These are cool, foggy, high-altitude forests packed with gnarled trees, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, and epiphytes (plants which...
Like another world set amidst earthly mountains, one of our planet’s most amazing natural environments is also one of thelesser known secrets of the “other side” of Mexico. Beyond the margaritas, the mariachis, the fabulous beaches, and the fascinating archaeological sites, is the place known...
The colourful South American country named after the Equator is packed with some of the world’s finest travel experiences, including historic Spanish colonial cities such as Cuenca and capital Quito; ecotourism and adventure in the soaring Andes Mountains; fetching Pacific-Ocean beaches; and of course its...
In recent years our country’s become increasingly well known for its lovely, high-quality wine regions in places like La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Catalonia, and even Galicia. But even the most “unexpected” areas of Spain have a lot to offer, fruit-of-the-vine-wise. A good example is...
If you know anything about southern Mexico’s “Riviera Maya,” it’s probably likely the fantastic beach resorts along this stretch of Yucatan coast, as well as a raft of fantastic adventure and entertainment options. But the region is also full of quiet little corners to revel...
Among other things, Provence is famous for its extensive fields of lavender, used in cosmetics and perfume, as food ingredients, and in dozens of other products. But relatively few people outside Spain’s Guadalajara province may be aware that fields of this fragrant, pinkish-purple bloom also...
Spain is packed with dramatic national and regional nature parks, reserves, and protected areas, from the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of Africa to the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. On the mainland, too, there are dozens, and one lesser known one that...
A number of magical spots in the world are named “blue holes” – perhaps most famously Belize’s gigantic marine sinkhole, the “Great Blue Hole”. But the Dominican Republic has its very own – the Hoyo Azul in Spanish – in the holiday-resort paradise Punta Cana....
