Your trip planners and planning assistants here at Trufflepig travel a lot. Put all of that jet setting together, and you’ve got yourself a fine selection of previously enjoyed (and eagerly photographed) foods from around the globe. Every lunch hour we end up pining for one faraway dish or another; we’ve decided it’s time to […]
When you have free time in Spain, you don’t wonder what you’re going to do. You wonder what you’re going to eat. The fact that any free time will be spent sitting and eating and drinking somewhere with friends is a foregone conclusion. It’s what is done. This weekend at lunch, for example, when we […]
I love fire. I love to watch things burn, especially large, highly flammable things. Effigy is one of my all-time favourite English words, and the burning of effigies is one of my favourite pastimes. And I love processions. So after dinner last night, I drove down the hill to the town of Pitigliano, in the […]
Shoreditch used to be an area best avoided; indeed, the ‘ditch’ in question was probably a boggy suburb of London’s City back in Saxon times, known as ‘Sewer-ditch’. Gentrification and its proximity to the financial City of London changed this area into a hub of artistic creativity and art in the 90s, and this former […]
Here at Trufflepig we’re especially fond of the hidden and unusual, but we’ve all been drawn to the allure of a famous site, too. The Great Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building: they’re surrounded by hordes of people for a reason. The Blarney Stone is one of these tourist wonders, and on a […]
My travel bucket list is so extensive that I don’t think I’ll be able to complete it in my own lifetime. That’s what happens when you work in travel. Going back to a place I have already been, then, triggers an upset little voice in my head. “But… we could be seeing one of the […]
Having just returned from a research trip in Venice, our expert in all things Italian, Rudston Steward, has plenty to say about this watery wonder. He’s pared it all down to 12 key reasons why Venice should top your travel hit list. 1) A palatial past—Venetians don’t think of themselves as Italians, but as a […]
Did you know that Iceland is actually warmer than Toronto in February? Consider that as food for thought when you sit there staring out your office window into the endless winter we’re experiencing. But, I digress. The real draw for Iceland, as anyone who has been can tell you, is the truly spectacular scenery. Raging […]
The sheer size of the Louvre—bigger than an airport and more labyrinthine—can be overwhelming; but even more daunting than that is the sheer academic weight of all those masterpieces staring down at you; centuries and centuries of art in room upon room of scholarship. All those dates to learn, those artistic genres to distinguish, those […]
Doorknockers in Italy come in all shapes and sizes—angry warriors, Egyptian princesses, and the very common serene lion. I can’t help but be enamoured with them—they are like tiny, antique welcome parties for guests. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the satisfying slam brass on wood makes, is there? But what about the households who love […]
It’s hard to swing a bottle of Brunello in Tuscany without hitting a villa. Some are new, some old. Some private, some open to the public. Most of them are nice to gorgeous, so picking a favourite is like choosing between a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. As far as old, private, and gorgeous villas go, […]
Museums are most often created to teach, to inspire, or to amuse. The subject is something distant–an ancient culture, an eccentric artist, an obscure local claim to fame. They can be fascinating, but are rarely relatable. Most of us don’t walk into the Louvre or the Tate with an extra pocket pack of Kleenex. But […]
Love is in the air. Mostly because we’re trying desperately to ward off the snowy chill of February, but also because of that heart-shaped holiday awaiting us at the end of the week. Whether you think it’s a perfect time for romance or a total Hallmark sham, you can’t lose if you simply look at […]
How did this happen? The name of one of Italy’s most charming cities twisted, turned and squeezed into a moniker for a certain sort of sandwich meat. Enough, we say. It’s time to take back the word and sing its praises for what it is: Bologna, city sublime. True to its nickname, Bologna Il Grassa […]
We’ve said it many times, but it bears repeating: the best part about seeing Venice is getting lost. And the best part about getting lost in Venice is that it’s incredibly easy to do. Armed with a paper map, smart phone with GPS, and a helpful husband, I still managed to get lost no less […]
It’s pretty hard not to fall hard for France (as you may have read in Jack’s article from a few weeks ago). The whole country is just so visually appealing and culturally captivating. I was in Paris for a couple of days recently and walking around the city I was reminded how insanely and wonderfully […]