The first thing you notice upon entering Taos Pueblo—the northernmost of 19 Pueblo Indian tribes in New Mexico—is a peaceful silence. Sitting along a strip of fertile land at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just north of the town of Taos, New Mexico the pueblo (Spanish for “village”) exists in almost the same way as it always has—with no piped running water or electricity. Residents (of which there are about 150 full-timers) live in an interconnected maze of adobe buildings, in rooms with adjoining walls. Around 1,900 other Taos Indians live elsewhere on the surrounding pueblo lands. Divided in two by the Red Willow Creek, the largest structure in the pueblo—a multi-story adobe building—sits on the northern side of Taos Pueblo. It ...
The Amalfi Coast of Italy is a must-do drive that runs along the southern coast from Positano to Vietri Sul Mare. It consists of thirteen UNESCO World Heritage Site towns, and although it is a fare distance from the the hub of tourism in Italy, it is well worth the trip. Starting in the lemon-tree-lined city of Sorrento, make your way along the cliff-clinging roads that follow the unrelenting shoreline of turquoise waters. Here at the starting point of your Amalfi Coast tour you can sip some of the area's famous limoncello liqueur while enjoying incredible views of Naples and historic Mount Vesuvius across the bay. Onwards along the Amalfi Coast, the views only become more impressive. The narrow roads often widen into large rest ...
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is a national historic landmark and a cultural icon. The Guggenheim New York is a work of art in its own right, and one that many come to experience for the great pieces of art it contains. At other nearby museums it's all about the art, but here the story is the building as well. Forget the likes of Picasso, Chagall and Kandinsky; the best experiences are about lounging in the shadow of Wright's beautiful building which overlooks Central Park, and walking down the internal spiral floor-by-floor. Outside, the Guggenheim Museum looks like a squat tornado of sorts, and was designed by Wright as a play on a ziggurat (a type ...
While wine lovers the world over have different palates and different favourites, France is undoubtedly the most famous wine-producing country, and the Beaujolais is its most famous red wine. On the stroke of midnight on the third Thursday of November each year, Beaujolais Nouveau is celebrated by drinking the wine from grapes harvested that summer. Dubbed “Beaujolais Nouveau Day,” parties are held all over France and further afield to celebrate the first wine of the season. There are about 120 Beaujolais Nouveau related festivals held in the Beaujolais region alone, and some bottles from the six-week-old crop are also sent to oenophiles around the globe in time to be uncorked for the occasion. Located in the heart of the Rhone-Alpes region of eastern central France, ...
In the rugged mountainous coastline of Cinque Terre National Park, we gazed down at the impossibly vibrant colours of a gem-like town perched on a cliff. Our Cinque Terre hike had brought us through five of these jewel-tinted towns, countless delightful swimming spots, hillsides planted with olive groves, and walkways overlooking the ocean. Cinque Terre National Park is located on a rugged area of coastline on the Italian Riviera. The five villages in the Park: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore—are charming historic towns where time seems to have stood still. Vendors hawk fresh produce in the narrow winding streets, and tourists can wander at will through the village shops, pausing to sample the delicious local fare, or cooling off in the sunlit ...
The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is a traditional riding school and training centre for the equestrian art of dressage. This is an elegant sport where horses perform graceful ballet-like dance movements at the (barely visible) commands of their riders. Dressage is a popular sport around the world, and is even a competitive Olympic event. But it is at the Spanish Riding School that the charming white Lipizzan stallions and their riders have been trained in classical dressage since the 1500s. The Spanish Riding School is the oldest of its kind, and is located inside the Hofburg: Vienna's historic and grandiose imperial palace. The architecture of the training arena, known as the Winter Riding School, is well worth a look. Even if you aren't a ...
The Luxor area is one of the premiere travel spots in Egypt, home to some of the best historical sights and experiences. There's so much to see and do here, from the Temple of Karnak to the Valley of the Kings, that it's possible to see several enjoyable days go by in the blink of an eye. One of the top attractions in Luxor is the Temple of Hatshepsut, also known as Deir el-Bahri, which is located on the west bank of the famous Nile River opposite the city. A Coptic Christian cemetery is just one of several uses this area has had over the centuries, and includes a mortuary complex for Pharaoh Mentuhotep II who reunited Egypt during the Middle Kingdom. The most notable ...
The beautiful Park Guell of Barcelona, Spain, is an extraordinary sight. Fantastic pavilions and sculptures are positioned amid the herb paths and foliage, seemingly plucked from a dream. Now one of the most popular parks in Barcelona, it is difficult to believe that Park Guell came from inauspicious origins. Barcelona industrialist Eusebi Guell, obtained the park with the intention of building a housing development for the wealthy, and he recruited architect Antoni Gaudí to assist him. The plan was a failure as only two houses were built and Guell was unable to sell either of them. Gaudi finally purchased one of the homes for himself and his family. The city claimed the property in 1918, and it was opened as a public park in 1922. ...
For most Dubliners, the pub is the centre of Irish society. Every occasion takes place here, be it happy or sad, culinary or alcohol-fuelled, literary or sporting, business or pleasure, family or friends. And no matter where you go in Dublin, you'll find a public house or two or three on every street. As James Joyce wrote in his classic novel Ulysses, “A good puzzle would be to cross Dublin without passing a pub.” One of the best aspects of Dublin pub life is that it's a culture open to all, locals and visitors alike. Everyone is welcome to sample the charm, “craic” (fun in Gaelic), music, drink and conversation. Whether you're after a quiet pint, a rock music bar, cocktails, traditional music and dancing, ...
If you’ve had your fill of temples, treks or museums, or are just plain ready to party, Vang Vieng in Laos is the place to head for. All backpackers on the Southeast Asia route talk about the epic partying that goes on in this surprisingly tiny town. While everyone refers to it as “tubing in Vang Vieng,” there is in fact very little tubing that actually goes on. Instead, the banks of the Nam Song River are lined with bamboo hut bars, pounding speakers and dancing travellers all looking for a good time. When I first arrived in Vang Vieng, I was taken aback by how small the town actually is. Vang Vieng consists of about three streets filled with restaurants, bars, guest houses and ...
