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Rain? Check.
Even the urban jungle’s most dedicated denizens, so caught up in asphalt and ambition, could do well to remember the green worlds beyond their horizon. What better way to start than a foray into the densest, most richly diverse wildernesses this world has to offer? Rainforests are the rock stars of Earth’s ecosystems, generating nearly a third of the planet’s oxygen turnover and hosting mind-boggling biodiversity. From soaring vines and canopies to majestic fauna sheltered in a huge canopy of green, they practically demand an audience.
See our slideshow of World’s Most Amazing Rainforests.
Despite the stark facts that rainforests once covered 14 percent of the earth’s land surface and now cover only six percent, and that thousands of species continue to be lost each year to deforestation, the rain does not stop, and there is still plenty of luxuriant terrain to explore and discover.
Written by Travel News on September 1st, 2009 with no comments.
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Colorful, vivid road trips in North America
I’d seen surreal pictures in Arizona Highways and other publications. But I wasn’t a true believer until I saw them with my own eyes—the vivid colors that transform central Arizona from just another sun-baked landscape into one of America’s most incredible autumn road trips, all the more remarkable because they are so unexpected.
See our slideshow of 15 Fall Foliage Drives.
It can’t be just any old Arizona highway; you have to choose your route carefully. In my case it was US Highway 89, which starts in the sagebrush-covered desert northwest of Phoenix. Almost from the get-go, I was driving upwards, the wicked switchbacks that make Yarnell Grade one of Arizona’s most spectacular roads. Reaching the summit, the temperature sank and the dazzling show began—splashes of incandescent yellow, red and orange against dark evergreens and massive boulders.
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Cantine Aperte is an annual wine-festival that takes place each May throughout all of Italy. From the Veneto region in the north, to Sicily’s Marsala, wineries open their doors to visitors and offer samples of their amazing wines. The one-time cost of entry is usually 5 euro; the price includes a wine glass that you can take home.
Italy produces more wine than any other country in the world, and Cantine Aperte is a way for winemakers to show off their creations. Winemakers fill the countryside with signs directing wine lovers to their wineries, making it a great day to rent a car and get out into the beautiful countryside.
Three of my favorite locations to indulge in Cantine Aperte are Tuscany’s Chianti, Piedmont’s Barolo, and Puglia’s Salice Salentino, but the best place to taste is usually right where you are, since wine is produced in every region of Italy. Each winery becomes a mini-festival with locals and visitors sharing wine, having picnics, and listening to live music. Here is the inside scoop on three of my favorite places to experience Cantine Aperte.
Cantine Aperte in Chianti
I like Chianti because it is a short drive from the beautiful city of Florence. In less than 45 minutes you are surrounded by dramatic, south-facing slopes that are planted with Sangiovese, the grape used to make the DOCG, Chianti. Not all winemakers are interested in making traditional DOCG Chianti wines however, and the infamous Super-Tuscans are also found around every corner. Super-Tuscan wines are not given the government classification of DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), because they are not made in the same manner as Chianti wines. Between innovative Super Tuscans and traditional Chianti, Tuscany is a great place to experience Italian wine. That the region is home to some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world is just icing on the cake.
Cantine Aperte in Piedmont
Home to the austere Barolo wines made from the noble Nebbiolo grape, the wine-growing region in Piedmont is located around the town of Alba. More off the beaten track than Chianti, the region features the same rolling hills covered with grapevines. The wineries are plentiful and the wines are extremely complex.
To experience Cantine Aperte to its fullest, it is best to stay in the cities of either Alba or Asti; both are located in the heart of wine-country and provide car rental services. Make sure to book your hotel well in advance, since this event is very popular in the region.
Cantine Aperte in Salice Salentino
Salice Salentino is one of the best-known wine-producing regions in Italy’s Puglia region. Famed for it’s friendly red wines made from Negroamaro and Primitivo grapes (Primitivo is genetically identical to Zinfandel), the region is home to many wineries. Puglia vies with Sicily for being the number one grape-producing region in Italy.
To experience the region it is best to rent a car in either Lecce or Taranto, two major cities on either side of Salice Salentino. Wineries open their doors at 10am. Around noon, look for wineries that feature traditional meals of orecchiette pasta or grilled meats. Most wineries close between 6 and 7 in the evening, however, there are usually a few that stay open until 9. These often feature food and live music.
Related posts:
- Wine Tasting in Puglia, Italy …
- European Wine Guide: Italy …
- Portugal’s Principal Wine Regions: Minho and Douro …
Written by Travel News on September 1st, 2009 with no comments.
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When one hears the words “European wine,” typically French Cabernet and Italian Lambrusco, or perhaps German Gewürztraminer, come to mind. Though Portuguese wines have become increasingly popular in American restaurants (especially the Vinho Verde varietal, and Port has made a resurgence in popularity), 
tourists often envision Portuguese wines as subprime to their French and Italian counterparts. Totalmente o contrário! Portuguese wines are complex and delicious, and the Minho and Douro wine regions of Portugal, though more rugged and less touristy than the Loire Valley or Tuscany, offer just as much charm.
The Minho Region
Minho is located in the northwest corner of Portugal, adjacent to Spain’s Galician province. The Minho region produces sharp reds and softer whites. Vinho Verde, perhaps the most popular Portuguese wine today, is from this region. Its name literally means “green wine,” a reference to the wine’s “youth.” Vinho Verde should be consumed soon after it is bottled, which means it is very reasonably priced. Wines from this region that are better with age are labeled as Reserva or Garrafeira, and cost a bit more. Vinho Verde is typically a white wine- fresh, fruity, and perfect for summertime. I recently learned that Vinho Verde can also be red, but red Vinho Verde is rarely exported. It is more acidic tasting than its white cousin and bright magenta in color.
The Douro Valley
The Douro Valley, located in the northeastern part of the country, is separated from the Minho Region by the Douro River. The wine production area of the Douro Valley extends along the Douro River, as well as along its tributaries that run from the Spanish border to roughly 100 kilometers outside of Oporto. Port, Portugal’s most famous wine, is produced in this region. Though there are many countries that produce versions of this sweet, heavy wine, authentic Port (called Porto) only comes from Portugal’s Douro region.
There are 165 grape varietals in the region, however the five main red varieties are Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão, and Touriga Francesa. The four most common whites are Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Donselinho, and Gouveio. Touriga Nacional is widely recognized as the best grape for red Porto, and white Porto is made from a blend of Malaysia Fina and Viosinho, Donselinho or Gouveio.
Wine Tours in Portugal
A variety of wine tours are offered in the Minho and Douru regions. Tourists can choose between riding Portuguese Lusitano horses between vineyards (with stops for wine tasting), women’s wine tasting tours (featuring spa treatments and shopping deals), and longer wine tasting tours (1-2 weeks) in Douro, designed for true oenophiles who want to sample a large variety of wines and learn about the vine growing practices in the region.
Saúde!
Related posts:
- Regions of France: The Northwest …
- Wine Tasting in Puglia, Italy …
- Wine Touring in Spain’s Rioja Region …
Written by Travel News on September 1st, 2009 with no comments.
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In conjunction with his upcoming book, Here Is Where: In Search of America’s Great Forgotten History, we’re following historian and Legacy Project founder Andrew Carroll as he drives, flies, walks, boats, buses, bikes, and hikes to seek out little-known historic sites in all 50 states. Bookmark all of his posts here.
Before arriving in Atlanta, Georgia, I received a call from a local WSB-AM radio reporter named Jon Lewis who wanted to talk about my search for unmarked historic sites throughout the country. I confessed I only had two sites to check out in Atlanta–one of which was already marked, and the second one I had yet to locate on a map. So throughout the day it was Jon who guided me around the city pointing out one fascinating, little-known site after another.
A few highlights:
To date, the worst hotel fire in the United States occurred in what was once the Winecoff Hotel on 176 Peachtree Street, and is now the Ellis Hotel. One hundred and nineteen people were killed on December 7, 1946, in what was supposedly a “fireproof” building–despite the fact it had no sprinklers or fire escapes. (The tragedy prompted cities across the country to enact stronger fire safety measures.) A young graduate student named Arnold Hardy won the Pulitzer Prize–and he was the first amateur to do so–for a picture he took of a woman falling from the eleventh floor. Miraculously, she survived. The building was put on the National Register of Historic Places only earlier this year.
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Friend of IT Lola Akinmade loves pad thai, and gives us the lowdown on where to grab the best in Northern Virginia.
Maybe it’s the final sprinkling of crushed peanuts that seals the deal or bean sprouts as the only vegetable in the mix alleviating my guilt, one thing is for sure: whatever magic portion this Thai delicacy wields, it has me completely hooked.
The beauty of living in the Washington, D.C. metro area means you’re blessed with instant access to high quality and authentic cuisine from all over the globe right in your backyard. With its sinful stir-fry blend of rice noodles, chili, coriander, fish sauce, egg, and your meat of choice, Pad Thai is the most popular and instantly recognizable Thai dish worldwide. My insatiable need for Pad Thai can be broken down into three distinct scenarios.
Pad Thai for the Journey
It was fate that brought me to Neisha Thai Cuisine in Tyson’s Corner. Heavily frequented by native Thai customers, a clear indication of its authenticity, I stumbled upon this gem during a shopping trip. Its location in McLean and proximity to Washington Dulles International airport meant I could indulge in one pleasure, Pad Thai, en-route to observing another pleasure of mine, travel. Now, each time I head to Dulles to catch an international flight, my excitement is two-fold. A quick stop to stock up on enough Pad Thai to last the entire journey, and the journey itself.
Written by Travel News on September 1st, 2009 with no comments.
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Senior editor Norie Quintos has been blogging about her recent trip to Kenya with her teen sons. Click here to see her previous posting.
Back in my college days, when I was young and idealistic, I
spent two months with an NGO helping to build a school in Kilifi, on the Kenyan
coast. We mixed cement by hand, laid bricks, and lived alongside Kenyan
students. Twenty-some years later, I came back, this time with my children.
Surprisingly, the structure I helped build still exists, as does my youthful
scrawl in the cement on the side of the building. Unfortunately, the students
still lack books and furniture and access to educational tools such as
computers. I made a monetary donation and left, wishing I could do more. Back
in the van, the kids and I talked about the disparities of education and
opportunity.
On our first day in Nairobi, we visited the community center
and school supported by our tour operator, Micato Safaris. As the fancy Range
Rover pitched and rolled over rutted dirt lanes lined with a random assortment
of gummed-together wood, thatch, corrugated metal and cement dwellings that make up Mukuru, an unregulated district of 600,000 squatters
about six miles outside the city. (For a bigger discussion on slum tours, check
out a piece we ran on the subject.) My sons’ eyes grew wide in the face of real
poverty, so different was it from the kind they consider themselves victims of
whenever I deny them a new pair of Nikes. On the other side of the car window,
children’s smiles–incomprehensively bright–greeted us. There was no denying the
discomfort my sons and I felt. But perhaps comfort wasn’t the point. The point
was to feel, to question, to think, and then perhaps to act. At the Harambee
House, visitors saw what previous safari clients have been moved to accomplish.
Here, slum dwellers’ children were offered food and education and training,
young adults taught skills–a way out and up.
Parents think they should have the answer to everything, but
I disagree. Sometimes it’s enough to ask the questions.
What are your thoughts?
Photos by Norie Quintos
Norie is updating the magazine’s
safari planner. Tell us your experiences, strategies, and tips. Up next, London
with teens.
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- Got a watermelon? Fuel your car! Research shows that watermelons have a high concentration of directly fermentable sugars, which, according to Inhabitat, “may be a valuable source for biofuel due to the ease with which they can be fermented into ethanol.” [Inhabitat]
- Book a three-night stay at Montana’s Resort at Paws Up and get $250 credit per room-night toward your choice of outdoor adventure, including ATV rides, horseback riding, fly fishing, and clay shooting. Reservations must be made by August 31. [Gadling]
- Dreaming of Machu Picchu? Look no further than San Francisco. This Golden Gate town is bursting with Peruvian flavors, and the New York Times has a great round-up of where to get the best ceviche, a classic Incan dish of raw fish, lime juice, and spices. Check out Traveler’s Destination Guide to Lima (and our Peru photo galleries) for more on Peruvian cuisine. [New York Times]
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Toute l’actu numérique des pirates – p2p, bidouilles, hacking, sécu, jeux, bons plans, news sur HADOPI et autres linuxeries, parce qu’on est tous un peu des pirates.
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Dos blog sobre cine
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