Cogevi-Collet Champagne House I spotted him as he came through the stone-white door carrying a giant, sparkling tuba (really a sousaphone) high upon his back. He was with his friends: the saxophone and the tenor sax. They were casually walking down the street as I entered the museum of Cogevi-Collet Champagne House in the champagne …
Destinations
Carnival in the Black Forest of Germany (Part 1 link) Snap, Whip, Crack! The parade has begun with over 4000 “fools” who have gathered at the entrance to the old Black Gate and make their way down the parade route. The characters of the Black Forest begin to come alive as they perform a slow, …
Uncorked Champagne, France I am so excited to share with you that I will be attending the 7th annual International Wine Tourism Conference (iWINEtc). It takes place in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France in the city of Reims. For two days, I will hear over 30 talks, panel discussions, and presentations about wine tourism along …
Nestled in the foothills of the High Sonoran Desert, yet tucked up near the trails of the Pinnacle Peak Mountain lies the Four Seasons Scottsdale, which is “deep in the heart” of Scottsdale. During the drive up to the Seasons, you realize that the environment has slowly changed. The elevation begins to increase, the …
The airport was scarce as I looked around at the almost empty room for the late-night flight. I think I saw only one other American couple in the blindingly-white-light airport waiting room. I had my ticket to paradise sweating in the palm of my hand. Finally, they called my flight number, and soon enough I …
Norway’s Northern Lights He sat softly in the cold white snow as the mysterious hovering orbs of light surrounded him and he stared in awe at the sight that has been happening in this country for more than a century. Particularly puzzling to him is the wide variety of different lights that seem to appear, …
There was a quiet stillness unlike anything I had experienced before. I knew that Maakalla Island of Western Finland was remote, but the eeriness I felt upon stepping off the boat gave me a bit of a shiver. It was mid-August and so the weather was picture-perfect for today, as soon, no one will …
Becoming a real cowboy is a boyhood dream and Lon Megargee, who was born in 1883, was no exception. In 1886, at the tender age of 13, when his father was killed in Cuba, he made his way to the Arizona desert to start the long path that would take him there. He spent several …
Tucked away between Guatemala and Mexico, lies a little slice of paradise right in the heart of Central America. Belize, flanking the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, maybe small in size at roughly 174 miles in length, but definitely packs a mighty punch for those in search of outdoor wonders. Known the world over …
Deep in the caverns of a palatial kitchen, we sang and laughed, as we tasted the flavorful homemade food, high in the hills of Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy. I heard the sounds of many languages, laughter, and songs, as I popped fava beans the size of sausages into my mouth, after salting them on …
Rome, the eternal city. Who doesn’t love Rome? I fell in love the moment I landed there and have continued to go back there year after year. It is a fabulous city! There are so many things to see and do in Rome. But one thing that makes Rome so much better is if …
Luxury Tuscany, Italy: A Journey for the Soul Montestigliano is a place for the soul, a place of rest, a place of comfort. It is not just a trip you take, but a journey that takes you. A journey to see how others live, how life functions, not in your own country; but in a …