At 6′ 5″ our Africa trip planner, Dan Achber, is a giant among men. But it’s his prowess as a planner of safaris and journeys in sub-Saharan Africa that really measures large. We’ve held him in high regard for years and were thrilled to learn yesterday that Travel & Leisure magazine now does too. In the upcoming […]
I’ve spent a lot of time in a lot of places where locals don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. And I’ve spent even more time in hotels where bottled water is imported at great environmental cost and sold to guests for a king’s ransom. So when I learned about an organization called Whole World […]
A great trip is the sum of its parts. But picking the best parts and then figuring out how to piece them together, well, that can be a challenge. Perhaps more than anywhere I can think of, planning a silky smooth trip to Indochina usually boils down to a mathematical equation (not to be confused with a […]
I don’t usually like to pick favourites. Usually. Today, however, I’m going to side-step diplomacy and cut right to the quick. My all-time favourite place to have lunch in NYC is Cafe Gitane on Mott Street in Nolita. Boom, there it is. The cold, hard, delicious truth. Perhaps some explanation is in order. Cafe Gitane […]
One of the things I love about Paris is that it simultaneously manages to be both conspicuous and coy. In a sense, it’s the world’s most obvious place—glaringly gorgeous and positively popping out of its Haussmannian dress. And yet, it’s a city that keeps plenty secret, holding you slightly at bay which, of course, keeps […]
It’s tax season. Not much fun, right? Perhaps, but I’d like to see if we can buck that trend and have some fun with numbers for a moment. A friend just sent me this photo of some actual paper money from Zimbabwe. One hundred trillion dollars, that’s more than a little mind-boggling. So, I turned […]
I’m going on vacation to Mexico next week and all I can think about is staring at the sea. We’re headed to Tulum, a place I’ve never been, but everything I’ve ever seen of the coastal water down there makes me want to weep. It’s just so breathtakingly blue. Incredibly, impossibly, hypnotically blue. Which has […]
Let’s face it, Italy has a knack for making things look beautiful. True, their politics are absurdly colourful. And yes, the mafia thing is kind of dark. But when it comes to design and the visual shape of things, they really sparkle. It was Italy who took the simple form of the car and styled it […]
Taking a decent photo has been rendered as easy as it’s ever been. Digital cameras are so smart that as long as you have a steady hand, decent eye, and reasonably flexible index finger you’ll probably get a pretty good image. But capturing a great shot, really nailing it, still takes a whole lot more […]
You may (or may not) have noticed that we haven’t posted a single new Sounder article since the tail end of 2012. What can I say, we’ve been busy planning a lot of trips. I hasten to add that our long-time, ever-steady and always-reliable Sounder editor, Amy Smithers, skipped town a month ago to travel […]
There are sheep in New Zealand older than many of the houses. Perhaps that’s a slight exaggeration, but not wholly incorrect. Touring around the country it’s remarkable how new everything is. In the short history of New Zealand, a hundred years is an eternity. So it’s really not every day you stumble upon a country […]
Some people see vehicles merely as a means of getting from A to B. Not me. I relish the ride and appreciate the story behind a vehicle. And I’ve always found that if you take a closer look, there’s often an interesting tale behind the transport (or sometimes even a tail). Herewith a handful of […]
Why is it that there never seems to be enough guacamole on the table? With the possible exception of a ‘shared’ basket of french fries, no other dish seems to disappear so quickly. Where: Salsalito Taco Shop, Sausalito, California What: There were other plates of other very delicious things on this table. But my memory […]
Usually a sandwich requires some mayo, mustard or olive oil to grease the wheels, as it were. Not this one. Where: Pizzicheria de Miccoli, Siena, Italy What: Don’t be fooled by the name. An Italian ‘pizzicheria’ is not to be confused with a ‘pizzeria’. Whereas the latter serves pizza, the former is more like a […]
Any region that includes the word Sahara instantly suggests a high degree of nothingness. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Morocco has a totally unexpected slice of magic. Not only is it surprising to see what’s on your plate, it’s always a mystery where you’ll actually find it. Where: Dar Ahlam, Skoura, Morocco What: Rice balls […]
What? On my plate in Quebec and no photo of a poutine? I like the frites, gravy and cheese curd combo at least as much as the next guy, but sometimes even the staunchest starchist needs a breather. Where: Auberge Sur Mer, Saint-Simeon, Quebec What: Shrimp, shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp, garnished with a hard-boiled […]