Category Archives: Travel

Village Walk: Montalcino In Tuscany, Western Italy

Montalcino is a beautiful historical town perched in a hilltop in Tuscany, Italy.

The town is known for the production of delicious wine, the famous Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino, and is a lovely destination for a day out in Tuscany.

Montalcino has much to offer its visitors: a beautiful medieval center, stunning views over the surrounding countryside and wonderful food and wine are just the start of it.

This is our guide to the best things to do in Montalcino, Tuscany.

Home Tours: Moltrasio Villa On Lake Como, Italy

A gem of late-nineteenth-century architecture, designed by architect Guido Sartirana, is currently for sale in Moltrasio, by the wonderful waters of Lake Como. This is a place that certainly needs no introduction, the undisputed pearl of the most beloved lake in Italy, one that has always been an elegant and exclusive destination thanks to its breathtaking views and its ancient noble homes surrounded by centuries-old gardens. In this dream setting, this villa for sale is in a unique position, directly overlooking the lake and surrounded by a private park measuring over 5,000 sqm. Directly by the lake, the property’s dockyard offers the exclusivity of reaching it by water in total privacy, aboard private boats. Built at the end of the 19th century on a project by a well-known Milanese architect, this villa is characterized by its richly decorated facade with Renaissance-style motifs, enriched by sloping wings and an extraordinarily panoramic corner tower. A huge terrace right in front of the lake, ideal for enjoying romantic drinks at sunset, leads us to the entrance on the ground floor, which is home to a spacious living area, made extraordinarily bright by big French windows. The terrace also leads to the lower level and to the beautiful pool area, to an outdoor kitchen and to the caretaker’s apartment. The main villa is flanked by two other buildings, a small castle and another independent house, located in the property’s grounds, which are an authentic haven of rest in which to enjoy the magical atmosphere of this place in the privacy of your own home.

Storm Chasing: ‘Níłtsą́ – A Monsoon Film’ (2022)

Níłtsą́: the Navajo word for ‘rain’. Two years in the making. Almost 80 total days of chasing. Tens of thousands of miles driven. All packed into 12 minutes of the best storms and moments from the 2021/22 monsoon in Arizona. These films are my entire heart and passion for what I do.

Sometimes I’m so tired I don’t even want to chase, and I have to MAKE myself get into the truck and start driving. And it’s almost always worth it. One of my supporters on Patreon answered my call for a possible new name for the series. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to, and it would take something special to get me to do it. Leonard’s wife suggested Niltsa, and I immediately fell in love with it. It’s a gorgeous word.

Filmed and edited by: Mike Olbinski

Covers: The NY Times Style Magazine – Nov 13, 2022

Inside the Mezquita in Cordoba, with its 800-odd columns: a church that was once a mosque.

Three writers go searching for echoes of a vanished culture — or a resurrected one.

– SpainIn the country’s churches and streets, the remnants of eight centuries of Islamic rule are hiding in plain sight.

– Singapore: Cuisine is one of the few ways to define Peranakan culture, a hard-to-pin-down blend of ethnic and racial identities.

– TajikistanWhile the nation’s history is being hidden behind glimmering new facades, its artisans hold on to tradition with quiet determination.

Aerial Views: Brasilia – Capital Of Brazil (4K)

Brasília, inaugurated as Brazil’s capital in 1960, is a planned city distinguished by its white, modern architecture, chiefly designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Laid out in the shape of an airplane, its “fuselage” is the Monumental Axis, 2 wide avenues flanking a massive park. In the “cockpit” is Praça dos Três Poderes, named for the 3 branches of government surrounding it.

Covers: Country Life Magazine – Nov 2, 2022

Country Life Magazine – The November 2022 issue looks at what London would look like if the wrecking ball hadn’t held sway in the 20th century, the pros and cons of an open fire versus a wood-burning stove, and follows in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg — plus, it includes our annual Gentleman’s Life supplement.

Canada Views: A Steamship Cruise Of Lake Muskoka

Muskoka Lakes is cottage country paradise. Miles of boating, natural wonders, a vibrant history and a superb quality of life attract visitors from around the world. It is comprised of 80 lakes, including the three big lakes that define the Muskoka experience: lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph.

Muskoka’s steamship heritage is older than Canada. The first ship steamed Lake Muskoka in 1866. In 2017, the RMS Segwun’s marked 130 years of history. She is North America’s oldest operating mail steamship. Wenonah II, a modern interpretation of a traditional steamship, is named in honour of Wenonah, the first steamship to sail Lake Muskoka. In 1887, long before the era of modern highways, the R.M.S. Segwun was built in Glasgow, Scotland, and assembled at Gravenhurst.

The ship was originally a side paddlewheel steamer named “Nipissing II” and served as a connection – transporting passengers, mail, and freight from Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst to cottages, resorts and homes that were beginning to populate the Muskoka Lakes

City Views: A 360° Walking Tour Of Florence, Italy

Florence, Italian Firenze, is the capital of Firenze provincia (province) and Toscana (Tuscanyregione (region), central Italy. The city, located about 145 miles (230 km) northwest of Rome, is surrounded by gently rolling hills that are covered with villas and farms, vineyards, and orchards. Florence was founded as a Roman military colony about the 1st century BCE, and during its long history it has been a republic, a seat of the duchy of Tuscany, and a capital (1865–70) of Italy. During the 14th–16th century Florence achieved preeminence in commerce and finance, learning, and especially the arts.

Florence
Florence

The present glory of Florence is mainly its past. Indeed, its historic centre was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1982. The buildings there are works of art abounding in yet more works of art, and the splendours of the city are stamped with the personalities of the individuals who made them. The geniuses of Florence were backed by persons of towering wealth, and the city to this day gives testimony to their passions for religion, for art, for power, or for money. Among the most famous of the city’s cultural giants are Leonardo da VinciMichelangeloDanteMachiavelliGalileo, and its most-renowned rulers, generations of the Medici family.

Filmed in October 2022

Travel Guides: Culture & Food In Montreal, Canada

Attaché – Our Montreal travel guide! What a place. It really feels like Montreal shouldn’t exist, it’s such a strange confluence of cultures. But I am so glad it does. And I finally got to experience my Montreal food unicorn – poutine. Glorious, wonderful, Montreal poutine. Absolutely worth waiting 43 years for! Montreal, you have my heart…despite the clogged arteries.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Intro 01:07 – Transport 04:33 – Sponsor 06:01 – Food 10:39 – Money

Travel In Denmark: Three Top Spots In Copenhagen

Instagram is full of colorful pictures of Copenhagen. But what does the Danish capital really look like? We checked out three of the most popular spots – we went to see the old harbor Nyhavn, strolled around the 16th century Rosenberg Castle and had a blast at the famous Tivoli amusement park.

Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, sits on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager. It’s linked to Malmo in southern Sweden by the Öresund Bridge. Indre By, the city’s historic center, contains Frederiksstaden, an 18th-century rococo district, home to the royal family’s Amalienborg Palace. Nearby is Christiansborg Palace and the Renaissance-era Rosenborg Castle, surrounded by gardens and home to the crown jewels.