Palia (old) Peritheia is reputedly Corfu’s oldest village. The guides will tell you it’s a ‘ghost village’. The oldest it may well be, but a ghost village? Not really. Here’s the story. Go back to the 14th century. The island’s inhabitants, the corfiotes, were suffering regular pirate attacks, and many sought refuge away from the […]
This Fall, Town & Country magazine had the hare-brained scheme of planning a 170-day Grand Tour around the world for their 100th anniversary. And then they had the wise idea of asking Trufflepig to plan 43 days of it. We were tickled pink with [false] modesty. There’s a world of difference between good trip-planning and most […]
There are many hidden places of history in London – it is a city of layers that is to be discovered on foot through its higgledy-piggledy lanes and streets. No grid system here. There are, however, many cul-de-sacs and crescents that confuse and confound. Cycling lanes end where cobbles begin and then suddenly you discover […]
Growing up in Eastern Germany, Poland was too close for curiosity. We were neighbours dictated by our respective Communist regimes and that was about it. Even after the Iron Curtain was lifted, it held little appeal. The entire world was up for grabs after all, so I never wasted a thought on Poland – it […]
Brazil is so darn gigantic that there are many ways to access the confusingly vast Amazon region. Of the four or five main entry points to reach this marvel of mother nature, the most popular one is Manaus. From here you can visit the Amazonas Opera House and take a seaplane to one of the great land-based lodges, like the Anavilhanas. […]
There are plenty of stereotypes that come to mind when someone says “vacation in Mexico”: sandy beaches, frozen cocktails, wild spring breakers. All of these things are available, of course, but there is so much more to this country. If you want to explore and discover many different elements of a destination without moving around […]
And the choice wasn’t hard. Late nights in the office finishing reports and getting ready for the arrival of the in-laws while buying mediocre last minute gifts on Amazon. Or bursting through chest-deep powder high up in the Canadian Rockies enjoying the year’s best snow and conditions with the world’s best guide. Yes the week […]
Maybe it’s the name, but Iceland in the dead of winter doesn’t instantly appeal to those who don’t like the cold. So we packed our swimsuit and snorkel and set out to put the record straight. At wintertime, Iceland becomes dreamy. Snowy landscapes, stunning Northern light displays, fewer travellers and lower prices mean we think […]
We don’t often toot our Spanish claxon, but we are proud of the corner of Spain from where we plan trips to the Iberian Peninsula. Home of sherry, flamenco, and the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, here’s 5 reasons why our lovely little province should be on everyone’s bucket list. Cádiz (pronounced: CAH-DEETH). Drenched […]
A resurgence of interest in this little-known region of southern Italy is underway, spearheaded by the sassy sassi of Matera. Last year Matera silenced the critics by beating out better-heeled northern rivals like Siena and Ravenna to be chosen as European Capital of Culture for 2019. The run-up to 2019 is likely to generate a […]
I have to admit I wasn’t expecting much from Burmese food, as I had never been exposed to it before. Suffice it to say, I was completely blown away by the selection, surprising combinations, and rich flavours that were repeatedly put in front of me. Geography has a lot to do with why Burmese food […]
On my recent trip to Myanmar (often still called Burma), I decided to take a break from the company of my excellent guide and head off on my own. I picked up a rental e-bike for a bargain (about 5 USD), so that I could get a little further in my explorations for the day. […]
We are excited to announce that we have finally brought Myanmar (also known as Burma) into the fold. After an exhaustive research trip spent scouting out the hotels, eating in the restaurants, meeting the people and drinking the (surprisingly delicious) beer, we are confident that we can give you an amazing and authentic experience in […]
Anyone can pull up to Mondavi or Chateau St. Jean in California and taste some wine. Anyone can book an appointment at Jordan or Far Niente and join a small group for a tour and tasting hosted by an experienced professional. California wine country, however, has numbers of amazing little gems that are not open […]
Ushuaia (pronounced: ush-why-er) is a bizarre town. It is the world’s most southerly city and by anyone’s standards should be a total backwater, lost in the annals of time and beaten into submission by the waters of the fierce Beagle Channel. Yet, it isn’t. In my mind, before visiting, I thought it would have perhaps […]
We love Iceland, there’s no doubt about that. I have to go out on a limb and say it’s probably my favourite country in the world (I may lose my Swiss citizenship for that comment). Most people who visit are under the impression that they only need a few days to see the county. While […]