Viestra Magazine Summer 2020

F U RT H E R I N S P I R AT I O N

V I ESTRA M A G A Z I N E

summer 2020

Taking You to New Heights in St. Moritz Nature Adventures in Madeira Explore and Relax in Mauritius

Essaouira Morocco’s Windy City A Taste of Tbilisi

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WIN a trip to Oman

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE Speak to an expert on 0208 712 9673 or start your journey at journeylatinamerica.co.uk

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Journey Through The Stars In The United Airlines Polaris Cabin

All-aisle access seats that lie flat and provide up to 6'6” of sleeping space Cool-gel memory foam pillows and Saks Fifth Avenue luxury bedding – including pillows, blankets and duvets Take pleasure in a selection of delicious decadent dining inspired by chefs from The Trotter Project Stay refreshed throughout your travels with award-winning, high-performance skincare amenities from Sunday Riley Available on selected flights. Speak to a member of the Premier team for more information*.

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Where in London can you see a private doctor within 15 minutes?* Just walk in to one of our

Urgent Care Centres The Portland Hospital for Children Open 8.00am-8.00pm

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London Bridge Hospital Open Monday-Friday 8.00am-9.00pm Saturday-Sunday 9.00am-6.00pm

No appointment needed

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85% of people seen within 15 minutes, HCA Healthcare UK statistics 2018* Initial consultation ÂŁ100 for adults, ÂŁ150 for children. (0-17 can only be seen at The Portland Hospital) For any life-threatening conditions, always ring 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.

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V I ESTRA M A G A Z I N E

HELLO TRAVELLERS! What a strange few months it’s been! I never thought when I was writing my editor’s note for the Spring 2020 issue of Viestra Magazine, that when the Summer 2020 issue came out I’d be stuck indoors, with borders all around the world closed, and everyone advised not to travel. We may be stuck at home right now but It doesn’t mean we can’t dream of, or plan, future holidays.

I love hearing news of wildlife re-claiming places that it has, for so long, not been able to take advantage of because of excessive human activity. Like the jellyfish swimming down the now crystal clear canals in Venice, or the wild deer resting under the cherry blossom trees in Japan. These places, normally bustling with human activity, have finally had the opportunity to accommodate other species.

I hope that hearing of these stories lets us think of travel in a different way - a way that causes less of an impact on the places we visit. Because, after all, we are just one species on this planet, sharing it with millions of others. Whether that means travelling during down-season, saying no to plastic while we travel or trying to book an eco-friendly hotel. Every little thing helps and, collectively, I believe we can become more conscious travellers.

In our next issue (Autumn 2020) we will be focusing on destinations only within the UK, because we want everyone to travel safely this year and we think that this is the perfect opportunity to discover the beauty that lies much closer to home.

Stay safe, stay home, but dream big.

Alex Holman, Editor Editor: Alex Holman alex@viestramagazine.com Advertising: Simon Hossack simon@viestramagazine.com Marketing and PR: Paul Williams paul@viestramagazine.com

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C O N T E N T S

Top Five Locations to Stargaze in Arizona

The Allure of Hotel Fairmont Le Château Montebello

Experience All That Tobago Has to Offer

The Green Lungs of The Earth

Nature Adventures in Madeira

Nine Things to Discover in Chile in 2020

page 8

page 12

page 17

page 20

page 24

page 28

Taking You to New Heights in St. Moritz

Why The A-List Love Anguilla

A Taste of Tbilisi

Fabulous Family Offerings in Nevada

Essaouira - Morocco’s Windy City

Touring the Orkney Islands

page 32

page 36

page 42

page 46

page 50

page 54

Perfectly Peculiar Places to Visit in Croatia

Explore and Relax in Mauritius

Top Five New Experiences in Manitoba

5 European City Breaks

Six Reasons to Visit ‘the City by the Bay’ in 2020

Win a trip to Oman

page 58

page 62

page 66

page 70

page 76

page 80

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A R I Z O NA S TA R G A Z I N G

Top Five Locations to Stargaze in Arizona Arizona is home to more certified Dark Sky Places than anywhere else in the world.

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A R I Z O NA S TA R G A Z I N G

How to do it For more information about attractions and activities in Arizona, visit www.visitarizona.com Grand Canyon Grand Canyon Star Party www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/ grand-canyon-star-party.htm Sedona Enchantment Resort www.enchantmentresort.com Tucson Mount Lemmon SkyCenter www.skycenter.arizona.edu Tuscon Astronomy Association www.tucsonastronomy.org Clarkdale Verde Canyon www.verdecanyonrr.com

Twinkle Twinkle, Arizona, photo: Ryan Cadby (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Identified as the world’s first ever “International Dark Sky City,” Flagstaff, Arizona is a true stargazing paradise. A little-known fact is that every Apollo 11 astronaut was trained in Flagstaff and that the moon was mapped in Lowell Observatory, ahead of the journey. The observatory is famously known as the site where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Today, astronomy enthusiasts can take part in guided daytime tours to the 24-inch Clark Telescope, as well as evening programmes that include an open house at the Putnam Collection Center where visitors can watch science demonstrations and examine historic items from the Lowell’s extensive collection.

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GRAND CANYON

In 2019 the Grand Canyon National Park earned its International Dark Sky status; the park has 67% of its lighting compliant with lighting standards and hopes to reach 90% by 2022. Star-lit summer nights can be spent gazing at the wondrous galaxies that make up the Grand Canyon’s patterned sky. Each year stargazers are invited to the Grand Canyon Star Party to celebrate one of the most breath-taking observational sites in the US, encouraging amateur astronomers from across the country to volunteer their expertise and offer free nightly astronomy programmes and telescope viewings.

Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, photo: Ding Ming

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FLAGSTAFF

Grand Canyon National Park: 2019 Star Party, photo: Grand Canyon National Park (CC BY 2.0)

T

he natural phenomenon of the night sky is particularly enhanced in Arizona – where desert land and clear skies ensure the perfect stargazing conditions. The state is also home to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), which exists to combat light pollution and raise awareness of the value of dark skies and the importance of environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Throughout Arizona there are world-class locations for stargazing and here are five of the best.

Flagstaff, photo: Forest Service, USDA

A R I Z O NA S TA R G A Z I N G

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TUCSON

Mount Lemmon SkyCenter is home to the largest dedicated series of public telescopes in the United States, making it the ultimate stargazing destination for astronomers of all levels. Stargazing programmes, known as ‘SkyNights’ are offered nightly, year-round, allowing novices and enthusiasts alike to gaze upon constellations and atmospheric phenomena through Arizona’s largest public viewing telescope (the 32-inch Schulman Telescope). Tucson is home to the IDA and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association that holds various activities and night sky viewings.

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CLARKDALE

Bathed in soft golden hues of sunlight, the views of Verde Canyon from an open-air railroad car are simply breath-taking. A canyon tour by moonlight has long been one of the locomotive’s most popular journeys and the train’s headlights are the only lighting in the canyon.

The ride takes place on select Saturdays, during August and September, where passengers can sip Champagne in first class and enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the celestial wonders that stretch across the rugged canyon.

Perseid Meteor Shower 2013 at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter, Adam Block (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Surrounded by towering red rocks and wide desertscapes, Sedona is a spectacular Dark Sky Community. For those looking for a relaxing getaway paired with stargazing opportunities, Enchantment Resort is the ideal retreat. On a weekly basis, star-lovers are invited to meet with expert astronomers and using an array of professional equipment, will observe planets, distant galaxies and a canopy of stars all in the comfort of the resort. Not only will guests be taught about the night sky but they will feel its influence with unique treatments inspired by the cycle of the moon, such as the New Moon Therapy (offered exclusively on days around the new moon).

Verde Canyon Railroad, photo: Verde Canyon Railroad

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SEDONA

Sedona Enchantment Resort

A R I Z O NA S TA R G A Z I N G

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MONTEBELLO, CANADA

The Allure of Hotel Fairmont Le Château Montebello

BY PAUL WILLIAMS

Canada’s Fairmont Le Château Montebello is without doubt one of the world’s most idyllic getaways; reflective of the nature in which it stands and with an alluring atmosphere of serene exclusivity, a visit left me mesmerised and in need of vacation therapy to explain the emptiness I felt when I left. Ok, that’s rather dramatic but let’s just say that Château Montebello is good for the mind, body and soul; to say I am enchanted is an understatement….

I

’d been staying in Mont-Tremblant for a couple of days, enjoying the skiing, so the journey to Montebello was around an hour and a half.

Snow was falling and a winter sun glowing subtly through the low cloud gave some light to the dark afternoon. There is something rather satisfying about driving along the forest roads in these conditions - a real sense of ‘travelling’.

The Canadian landscape maintains its beauty whatever the season.

Elegantly propping itself (quite literally - it’s the worlds largest log cabin) up in 500 acres of countryside, Château Montebello, where luxurious art deco meets traditional architecture akin to the buildings of a pioneer wilderness, is one of Fairmont Hotels’ flagship properties.

After making friends with the concierge, I made my way to reception. The hotel lobby is unbelievable - a huge six fireplace ornate chimney stack, the centre piece of the hotel, stands strong as it warms the weary traveller. The atrium has numerous corridors shooting off in various directions, an intriguing maze of hospitality harking back to a bygone era, still with its original fittings and furniture.

On the way to my room, I was fascinated by the photographs adorning the walls - presidents and

prime ministers, royalty and celebrities - Château Montebello has been a retreat for many. It’s almost a record office of Canada’s role as a diplomatic torch bearer. With a rich history spanning 100 years, I’m sure the building has some quite awesome stories to tell, itself born from a vision by the wealthy Harold M. Saddlemire to create an isolated retreat for the so-called elite of society.

The rooms are kitted out as you’d expect - they’re by no means palatially over the top like some socalled equivalents, but are on a level you’d expect from Fairmont. Cosy, comfy and so homely you’d be forgiven for thinking you were at your favourite aunt’s place - safe, relaxed, happy.

A glance out the window and the winter wonderland passes into night - when darkness falls, Château Montebello comes to life. The atrium is abuzz with the chatter of patrons enjoying the pre-dinner drink, lounging on sofas in front of the roaring open fires. It’s such an alluring atmosphere. The bar, offset to the edge of this incredible space, is the perfect place to perch and chill - I enjoyed a craft beer of local origin, they make it better than we do, enjoying a chat with a fellow guest. I could have quite happily sat here for the rest of the evening, quaffed a few and wallowed in the unique ambience of the Montebello’s beating heart.

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MONTEBELLO, CANADA

With fulfilment easily attained, sleep comes easy here. Like my dreams whilst I stayed here, Hotel Montebello is purely magical.

Make the most of the menu - you won’t be disappointed - all tastes and requirements catered for. There is a buffet style offering, or off the menu choice which thankfully is sensibly limited to around 4 choices, thank the Lord! Some hotels of a high class ilk STILL baffle me as to why they have a menu that needs around seven days to glance your eye over. Opt for a table at the Aux Chantignoles Restaurant. Recommend? Onglet you may know it as hanger steak - medium. If you like your wines, take the advice of your assigned waiter/waitress. I did and it was superb. As was she. Faultless service, great to have around.

Days were spent roaming the grounds; deep snow and a winter chill making a leisurely walk that little less leisurely but, thoroughly enjoyable, a work-

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out in itself - no need for the gym, although there is one on site. The frozen Ottawa river meanders by, but during the winter months it’s frozen solid.

Take a jolly to the village of Montebello and enjoy a hot chocolate with all the lashings at Le Zouk, a resto pub on the quaint main road or pop into the Chocomotive and stare in wonder at the assortment of home made chocolosies.

Altogether there are around 40 miles of hiking trails, and if you’re into completely knackering yourself out there are significant cross country skiing courses. Indeed, each year, Montebello hosts one of the stages of the Canadian Ski Marathon which sees a contingent of amateur enthusiasts of the sport descent on the chateau. The nature reserve is another must - ask the concierge

MONTEBELLO, CANADA

for details, maps and wildlife information - but at winter its pretty bleak, so keep within the grounds or close by, then warm your cockles with a winter warmer at the bar. 10-midday out in the snow midday until 1pm onwards: bar.

The hotel is home to one of the most impressive swimming pools in the entire universe - at 23 metres (the story goes it was purposely built to 23 metres to void itself from Olympic classification thus limiting use to members only) the heated pool is sheltered in its own ornately decorated log cabin, meticulously maintained as if it had just been given the sign off as approved and finished.

There is also an indoor curling and outdoor ice skating rink - curling is brilliant fun and can be played any time of year. Take time to look up the history of the curling club that once called this home.

With fulfilment easily attained, sleep comes easy here. Like my dreams whilst I stayed here, Hotel Montebello is purely magical.

MORE INFO Hotel Fairmont Le Château Montebello 392 Rue Notre Dame, Montebello, QC J0V 1L0, Canada +1 819-423-6341 www.fairmont.com/montebello Fairmont Le Château Montebello is a distinguished landmark of Québec. As the world’s biggest log Château, this heritage resort has graced numerous award lists including: Resort. US News & World Report Best Resorts in Canada (2020) Condé Nast Traveler - Readers’ Choice Award (2018, 2017, 2016, 2012, 2011, 2010)

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TOBAGO

Experience All That Tobago Has to Offer

BY JUDITH BAKER

Take a trip to tiny Tobago - one of the Caribbean’s most unspoilt islands where they are making a concerted effort to preserve its natural heritage with a number of initiatives, making this a great eco-destination as well as a lovely Caribbean holiday spot.

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TOBAGO

T

he island of Tobago encapsulates everything we associate with the Caribbean - white sand beaches, tropical forest and an energetic vibe. But Tobago has a distinct personality all of its own with surprises around every corner.

Tobago is Trinidad’s quieter, prettier little sister and at just 25 miles long is easily explored by car or jeep. You find rainforest, waterfalls and reefs, and as the twin nation of Trinidad and Tobago is the spiritual home of carnival and calypso, the strains of soca and steel pan are never far away.

Trinbagonians, as they’re called, have their roots in India, China, Portugal and Syria as well as Africa, England, France and Spain. This unusual ethnic mix is evident in the food and the faces and cultures of people you meet around the islands.

Most visitors don’t linger in Scarborough, Tobago’s hot and dusty capital, which spills down a hillside providing the backdrop for Fort King George, built in the 1760s by the British as a barracks. Better instead to head straight for the island’s many idyllic beaches or its lush rainforest.

Beaches Locals like to claim that Tobago is the island where Robinson Crusoe washed up, and certainly the beaches have that untouched desert-island feel.

Some are backed by smart hotels and others, like Englishman’s Bay and Bloody Bay, are simple strips of sand where the jungle meets the sea, approached by rough tracks through forests of bamboo. There are many unsophisticated spots like this dotted along the coast where all you need is a towel and sunblock. Pigeon Point, sheltered from the reef and protected from development, is the place to be at the weekend to party on the sand. Shore Bay is another popular spot for families with Miss Trim’s food spot and safe bathing. In the 1950s Tobago attracted Hollywood stars like Robert Mitchum and Rita Hayworth, and Princess Margaret visited on her honeymoon in 1968. Her swim prompted her to remark that the water was as clear as sheer stockings. The comment caught the local imagination and now Nylon Pool is a popular tourist spot where you can wade into the shallow sea near Buccoo Reef.

Pidgeon Point

The Caribbean side of the island has the best beaches and warm waters while there are choppier waves and fewer beaches on the Atlantic side. There are a number of interesting dive sites including MV Maverick, a 350ft former ferry deliberately sunk in 1997 to create an artificial reef where lovely coral and marine life are abundant.

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photo: Miguel Davis

Carnival Trinidad is famous for its colourful and energetic carnival celebrations which take place in February, but Tobago has its own quirky events such as Easter Goat and Crab racing at Buccoo.

If you can’t make the carnival you can still party the night away at the curiously named Sunday School, where locals and tourists alike eat, drink and dance every Sunday.

Rainforest It may have got its name from the tobacco crops that used to dominate, but these days Tobago is a fragrant place with silk cotton trees, twisting roots of Indian almond and bamboo that forms cool archways. About one third of the island is forest which creates endless opportunities for hiking, biking and getting close to nature. Protected since 1776 the Main Ridge Forest Reserve forms

the spine of the island with winding pathways, cascades and caves. Within the foliage you may spot lizards and armadillos. There are a number of hikes through the rainforest with plenty of guides.

One of the most magical sites is Argyle Falls, a 175 foot cascade with several pretty pools perfect for a dip on a hot day.

Birds It is worth packing binoculars as well as bikinis for a trip to Tobago. There are over 230 species of birds from majestic frigate birds and pelicans, which swoop impressively into the sea, to six different kinds of tiny jewel-coloured hummingbirds. You can see motmots and tanagers in the rainforest, but a trip to the Adventure Farm & Nature Reserve in Arnos Vale near Plymouth ensures you have an expert on hand to identify not just birds but butterflies and iguanas too.

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Head to the small island of Little Tobago to see the largest brain coral in the world (it is 3 meters high and 5.3 across) and home to one of the Caribbean’s largest sea-bird colonies. The red-billed tropicbird is probably the most spectacular inhabitant here. This most easterly point of Trinidad and Tobago can be visited as part of a glass bottomed boat tour. Don’t miss the views of Speyside from Pigeon Peak, Tobago’s highest point.

Bananaquit birds

TOBAGO

Some things to note Trinidad and Tobago are the most southerly Caribbean islands and are located below the hurricane belt Trinidad and Tobago has the Trinidad & Tobago Dollar as its currency, although US Dollars are accepted in some places Driving is on the left making it easy for British travellers Englishman’s Bay Beach, photo: Colin Watts

Food Finger-licking spicy roti and curry crab with dumplings are best enjoyed at one of many roadside food shacks or on the beach, but there are also some good restaurants on the island which serve fresh fish such as snapper and kingfish, prawns and lobster. Fruits such as mango, papaya, pineapple and bananas are all abundant on Tobago. For a delicious chocolate experience head to the Tobago Cocoa Estate in Roxborough where, after a tour of the heritage park itself, you can taste rum and chocolate.

Jemma’s Seaview Kitchen Treehouse, a Tobago institution, is right on the beach at Speyside on the east side and is built around an enormous tree. Stop off for fresh grilled fish and what some say is the best ice cream in the country.

Accommodation Tobago is refreshingly undeveloped with no big hotel chains or sprawling all-inclusive resorts.

There are some upmarket hotels such as Coco Reef Resort & Spa, which sits on its own private beach at Crown Point, or Castara Retreats which is backed by the rainforest with self-catering lodges and apartments. Smaller resorts and guesthouses are dotted around the island.

Currently Tobago is making a concerted effort to preserve its natural heritage with a number of initiatives including a Green Key Programme making this a great eco-destination as well as a lovely Caribbean holiday spot.

Virgin Atlantic fly to Tobago via St Lucia from £500 return www.virginatlantic.com British Airways fly to Tobago via Antigua from £419 return www.ba.com British Airways holidays has 7 nights in Coco Reef Resort & Spa from about £1000 per person including flights www.baholidays.com Castara Retreats has rooms from £230 per night www.castararetreats.com For more information visit: www.tobagobeyond.com

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GREEN LUNGS OF THE EARTH

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge

The Green Lungs of The Earth The importance of the forest as the earth’s green lungs, as a CO2 storage reservoir and as a habitat for a huge number of animals is undisputed. The international “Day of Forests” has been celebrated on 21st March since the 1970s which was, and still is, intended to draw attention to the global destruction of forests – a topic that is unfortunately still a highly relevant concern 40 years later. But what is the current situation of the forest? And what measures are hotels around the globe taking?

The status quo Around 31% of the earth’s surface is currently still covered by forest, and the rate at which forest area is being lost has slowed somewhat since 2000. In 2018, the total area covered by forest was 8.8 million hectares. The losses are often offset by newly planted forests and plantations. However, this is of little significance as these are far from being able to reach the quality of an original forest.

the country’s CO2 emissions are released due to these processes. In addition to palm oil, the cultivation of grain for biofuels, use as pasture land, the cultivation of fodder for livestock and the mining industry also play a role worldwide.

For example, in Madagascar, two percent of the rainforest was destroyed in 2018 to mine for sapphires and nickel.

One of the main causes of forest loss is conversion into arable land. Over a quarter of the loss of Indonesian rainforest between 2009 and 2011 is due to slash-and-burn clearing for the cultivation of oil palms. In addition to the dramatic consequences for the ecosystem, slash-and-burn logging and the exposure of peat soils release carbon - in Indonesia, over 85% of

The earth’s surface is not only losing forest through clearing, but also through “natural” forest fires: In Australia, all fires are currently under control or at least contained for the first time since the beginning of the forest fire season 2019/20. This year’s season has not only claimed 12.5 million hectares of forest but also the lives of countless animal and even the lives of some humans.

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GREEN LUNGS OF THE EARTH

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Canopy Walkway

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L O C AT I O N

Bergholel Rehlegg

REFORESTATION: REGIONAL MIXED FORESTS AND HUMUS In reforestation, the establishment of mixed forests with regional tree species plays a particularly important role, as experts believe that forestry tree plantations are not well adapted to climate change and forest fires. Therefore, the Berghotel Rehlegg plants a tree for every 5th guest who arrives on a Friday. The Gröllberg at the Gerstreit is to be reforested with native trees as the harsh winters of recent years have caused severe snow damage, resulting in large open spaces. Incidentally, the hotel is not only committed to rebuilding the forest, but also to promoting the build-up of humus in the region.

Humus performs a number of ecosystem services including helping to make the soil more resistant to flooding, while at the same time storing a lot of carbon.

The OCÉANO Hotel Health Spa on Tenerife has been working in partnership with the Bergwaldprojekt e.V. Association since October last year. The Association is committed to the protection and preservation of the forest and its volunteers help to maintain the forests, moors and open-air biotopes in Germany and Europe.

For every guest who books directly via the OCÉANO’s own website or the hotel, a local tree is planted.

Landgut Stober

Landgut Stober

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The Landgut Stober is situated at the Groß Behnitzer Lake, embedded in an incredible 125,000 m2 of forest, which is naturally maintained by the hotel. On two hectares there are 60-70-year-old pine trees, and on another 10.5 hectares, there are naturally rejuvenated forest areas. These are now being reforested with mixed forest in spring.

PROTECTING THE RAINFOREST The NGO Inkaterra Asociación, which was created by the Inkaterra Group, finances its research on the flora and fauna of this impressive ecosystem through exciting excursions into the Peruvian rainforest around the Madre de Dios River and makes the results available to the scientific community. The preservation of biodiversity is particularly important to them, therefore, Inkaterra has also been supporting the “Los TamboPatas” Association since last year and together with the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law has launched campaigns to protect the rainforest. “Los TamobPatas” monitors the forest to prevent illegal mining and tree felling since the mining of minerals and gold in Peru has increased by 916% in the last 30 years!

L O C AT I O N PREVENT DEFORESTATION Of course, it is best if deforestation can be prevented entirely. During the construction of the eco-luxury resort Tongsai Bay of Koh Samui in the 1970s, founder Khun Akorn slept on the beach for three months, ensuring that not a single tree was felled or animals killed during construction.

Instead, the buildings were integrated into nature and built around the existing trees. Even today, there are still villas and cottages where a tree grows through the tiles in the middle of the terrace!

MORE INFO Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge

Berghotel Rehlegg www.greenpearls.com/hotels/ berghotel-rehlegg www.rehlegg.de OCÉANO Hotel Health Spa www.greenpearls.com/hotels/ oceano-hotel-health-spa www.oceano.de/en Landgut Stober www.greenpearls.com/hotels/ landgut-stober www.landgut-stober.de Inkaterra Asociación www.greenpearls.com/green-projects/ inkaterra-asociacion-sustainablemachu-picchu www.inkaterra.com/inkaterra-asociacion-org/en

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Excursion

Tongsai Bay www.greenpearls.com/hotels/tongsai-bay www.tongsaibay.co.th

Tongsai Bay

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MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

Nature Adventures in Madeira

BY KATIE SAUNDERS

Madeira, known for its namesake wine and warm, subtropical climate, is not your typical beach holiday destination. This is a place to go out and explore, immerse in local culture or find solitude while hiking one of the magnificent trails that cross the island.

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T

he pilot brings us down smoothly into a perfect landing at Madeira’s Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, with hills to the left and a sheer drop into the sea to the right. We land on a shorterthan-most runway, built high up on large pillars - the runway has been extended twice for better landing conditions but is still known as one of Europe’s most difficult landing spots. Every pilot must go through extensive training and practice to be experienced enough to land here. But despite this nerve wracking thought, the views on the approach are incredible.

It’s a beautiful sunny, warm afternoon. The atmosphere is familiar, although I’ve never been here before, it feels similar to other parts of

MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

Madeira Sunrise, photo: Alex Meier

Portugal, and Spain, with its Mediterranean feel and mountainous terrain. I meet my driver outside the airport and he takes me to Hotel Four Views Baía, an excellent choice for travellers visiting Funchal – Madeira’s capital city. Four Views Baía has a family friendly environment with amazing views from all four sides of the building, and the pool area overlooks the town, the mountains and the sea. With live music nights and a fantastic spa, this hotel has all the amenities required for a fun and relaxing stay.

On the evening of my arrival I visit Funchal’s oldest street - Rua de Santa Maria. It’s a beautifully lined cobbled street with bars and restaurants on either side, most serving traditional food like polvo à

lagareiro, a huge portion of octopus and potatoes smothered in garlic infused olive oil, a dish which I thoroughly enjoy! Along with the most popular alcoholic drink of Madeira - Poncha - made with aguardente de cana (distilled alcohol made from sugar cane juice), honey, sugar and lemon juice.

I wake up early the next morning to go and watch the sunrise above the clouds, from the top of Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third highest peak. We have breakfast prepared and a Jeep organised and driven by our guide from Discovery Island Jeep tours. I’d say wrap up warm for this outing and take a hot drink if you can. Find yourself a large rock to sit on and get as comfy as you can while you enjoy the breathtaking views and nature’s

magical show of the sun as it rises up and lights up the island. Whilst we are here we walk to another must-see view called Balcões Viewpoint.

From this point you’ll enjoy the magnificent views of the Ribeira da Metade valley. On a clear day you can also see the island’s Central Mountain Range, including the two highest peaks, Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, as well as Penha D’Águia cliff.

enjoy the breathtaking views and nature’s magical show of the sun as it rises up and lights up the island

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MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

Nature walks are energising and relaxing at the same time, like a moving meditation as you climb The sun is up and it’s another gorgeous day on Madeira. ‘The Island of Abundance’ should be the nickname of the island. The amount of fresh fruit and vegetables that grow here is outstanding. If you were marooned somewhere, this would be the place to be. Avocados hang ripe and ready on the trees and celery grows freely from the soil along the cliffs on the levada walks. Agriculture here is old school and the terracing is all planted using their traditional manual labour methods.

They have excellent irrigation systems provided by the extensive levada systems. Even the driest areas of the island are provided with adequate water through these channels to ensure an abundance of crops.

Walking Vereda do Pico do Areeiro, photo: Francisco Correia

We drive up some questionable roads with steep drops on our tours around Madeira. We arrive safely at the starting point of the walk through Levada do Rei. We’re accompanied by a guide and our lunch is prepared and packed, all ready to take with us. Once we reach the end point we sit, relax and replenish our energy before heading back the way we came. It’s unexpectedly foggy early in the morning but it clears up. Nature walks are energising and relaxing at the same time, like a moving meditation as you climb the mountain.

Here you are walking next to the water systems and witnessing the most incredible views in the mountains. We finish the walk in roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes and treat ourselves to a well-deserved Poncha on completion.

For the evening meal, and to experience Madeira’s typical country food, we visit Adega da Quinta Restaurant. It’s a stunning restaurant with a romantic atmosphere and views over the coast.

It’s perfectly situated very close to our hotel. The meat arrives impressively attached to vertical skewers that are fitted in the table. Olives and bread are brought to the table to nibble on and all the side dishes are delicious and compliment the meat that is cooked to perfection. It’s the perfect setting for a date night or a special occasion.

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Praia da Maiata, Portoda Cruz, photo: Francisco Correia

MADEIRA, PORTUGAL

More info Madeira Tourism Board www.madeiraallyear.com/en www.visitmadeira.pt Stay Four Views Baía - Rua das Maravilhas 74, 9000-177 Funchal 20 minutes drive from/to the airport. Excellent rates available when booking directly www.fourviewshotels.com/?lang=en

Funchal gondola lifts, photo: Erik Karits

There is another beautiful island, Porto Santo, just a ferry ride away from Madeira. Book with the Porto Santo Line - it takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes by ferry that leaves early morning, and returns in the evening, so you can go for the day.

The crossing runs up to 13 times a week so staying longer can be easily arranged too. Porto Santo is well known for its long white sandy beaches, making it the perfect holiday destination for sun worshippers. The beach is nine kilometres long, and you’ll find just a handful of hotels and restaurants, making it one of the last ‘undiscovered’ resorts in Europe. From the soft sand to the sea, this place is full of beauty. Stop for a bite to eat at one of the beach bars around midday - an ideal way to take a break from the sun.

The few days I spend in Madeira only covers a handful of the adventures available on the Island.

One other must is the cable cars in Funchal. A gondola lift that transports people from the lower section on Funchal to the suburb of Monte. In the 20th Century Funchal and Monte were connected by steam engine train. Trips up and down were a memorable experience, however a century later and there is the cable car, a unique way of travel.

This means of public transport enables 800 passengers per hour to travel up to Monte. When you reach Monte, be sure to take an exciting ride in the traditional wicker toboggan to get your adrenaline pumping. Don’t forget the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and Monte Municipal Park, where you can relax and enjoy the view that overlooks the bay.

Experience Discovery Island Madeira For all of your outdoor activities and Jeep Tours book directly www.discoveryisland-madeira.com Eat Adega da Quinta Restaurant - Rua José Joaquim da Costa, 9325-034 +351 291 910 530 Travel Porto Santo - Book your tickets with Porto Santo Line direct via their website www.portosantoline.pt/en British Airways - to discover the magic of Madeira, direct flights take off from London Gatwick. Fares range from £45 - £156, depending on the time of year www.britishairways.com

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CHILE Chile, the second longest country in the world (beaten by Brazil by only 95 kilometres), stretches along South America’s western edge.

Its extraordinary geography is framed from East to West between the vast Pacific Ocean, the Coastal mountain range and the towering Andes mountains. Then from North to South, the land begins in the Atacama Desert, passing through luscious valleys and large cities in the central zone, to flowing rivers, countless lakes, snowcapped volcanoes, thousand-year-old glaciers, breathtaking landscapes, and all shades of green known to man.

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TAKE A CRUISE IN MAGELLAN’S WAKE October 2020 will mark the 500th anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan’s discovery of the stretch of water off the tip of Chile that joins the Atlantic and the Pacific - a strait named after the intrepid explorer himself. Magellan described Southern Patagonia as fierce and untamed, owing to the dramatic landscape of mystical fjords, crystal glaciers, jagged snow-dusted mountains and wild shores which remain largely unchanged to this day - earning its reputation as ‘the end of the world’. With a number of epic cruises departing from Chile’s Punta Arenas, there’s never been a better time to set sail from the vast Patagonian wilderness. www.chile.travel/en/where-to-go/ patagonia-and-antartica

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We’re sharing 9 incredible experiences in Chile - find the perfect way to explore this South American treasure in 2020.

Atacama, Chile, photo: Thiago Sanchez

Nine Things to Discover in Chile in 2020

WITNESS A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE With over 70% of the astronomical observatories in the world located in Chile and 300 days per year of clear skies, Chile is the Astrotourism Capital of the World. Following the total solar eclipse in July 2019, best viewed from Chile’s Elqui Valley, the phenomena is set to continue in 2020. Pucón, in the Araucanía Region, south of Santiago will be the best place to view the total solar eclipse due in December 2020.

In addition, the evening before the eclipse aligns with the peak period of activity of the Geminid meteor shower, where observers have the chance to see a stunning 120 meteors per hour in the starry sky. Visitors to Chile can also delve into deep space at the ALMA observatory in the Atacama Desert, home to the largest radio telescope on Earth. Guided tours and public visits are available to learn about the observatory’s discoveries relating to galaxies, mass stars and black holes in space. www.chile.travel/en/what-to-do/ astrotourism

CHILE

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VISIT THE BEST SKI RESORT IN CHILE For the third consecutive year, Nevados de Chillán has been voted as Chile’s Best Ski Resort in the 2019 World Ski Awards. Located a six-hour drive south of Santiago, the ski resort lies at the base of the active Volcán Chillán. Set at an altitude over 3,000m high, skiing is available June to October and the slopes offer unrivalled panoramic views of the surrounding area. Nevados de Chillán is home to 30 slopes including the longest run in South America and the 13-kilometre-long ‘Las tres Marías’. Visitors can also relax and rejuvenate in one of the resort’s four volcanic thermal springs, with a pisco sour in hand after a hard day on the slopes. The resort is also home to Chile’s Best Boutique Ski Hotel 2019, Hotel Nevados de Chillan - a 70 room property, with an excellent onsite spa, restaurant and cosy common areas. www.nevadosdechillan.com/invierno

Torres del Paine Lago Grey

Futaleufú

Ski Resort Valle Nevado, photo: Michael Neumann

Glacier hiking, photo: Miranda Salzberger

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PUSH YOURSELF TO THE LIMIT IN THE WORLD’S LEADING ADVENTURE TOURISM DESTINATION Chile was once again voted the best destination in the world for adventure travel, in the 2019 World Travel Awards. It’s no wonder that a country home to a strikingly diverse landscape and abundance of natural wonders is every adrenaline junkie’s dream! From glacier hiking in Patagonia to adrenaline inducing ziplining in Pucón, sandboarding in the Atacama Desert and scuba diving in Rapa Nui - there’s an adventure for everyone. www.chile.travel/en/what-to-do/adventureand-sports

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STAY AT SOUTH AMERICA’S FIRST MANDARIN ORIENTAL The 5* luxury Mandarin Oriental, located in the upscale neighbourhood of Las Condes, is now welcoming visitors. Recently completed, the impeccable property offers a beautiful outdoor pool area, award-winning restaurants and exquisite rooms. Lying in the lush gardens overlooking the pool and waterfall, the hotel’s AKO Wellness & Spa enjoys a uniquely peaceful setting. Spread over three floors, the spa features five treatment rooms, all with their own sauna facilities. Mandarin Oriental’s second project, an oceanfront resort in Viña del Mar, located within the Valparaíso Region, is also scheduled to open in 2020. www.mandarinoriental.com/santiago/ las-condes/luxury-hotel

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Torres del Paine

Patagonia - Catedrales de Marmol (Marble Caves) - General Carrera Lake, photo: Francisco Correia

There is an abundance of remote National Parks, pristine glaciers, breathtaking fjords, ancient caves and lesser-known wildlife watching spots away from the main tourist sites to discover

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CROSS THE DESERT IN A 4X4 Explora, voted the World’s Leading Expedition Company in the 2019 World Travel Awards, adds a brand new tour for 2020. Guests will cross from the terracotta mountains of the driest desert in the world, Chile’s Atacama Desert, to the infinite whiteness of the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. Visitors can discover a landscape like no other, on a once-in-a-lifetime journey, led by an expert Explora guide and driver as they make the remote crossing in a 4x4 vehicle. The route traverses the spectacular highlands, past geothermal fields and impressive volcanoes, through wildlife hotspots and along the shores of beautiful mirrored lagoons. The new tour will be available from April 2021 as an eight or ten-night package. www.explora.com/ salar-de-uyuni-salt-flats-bolivia

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DISCOVER PATAGONIA LATAM Airlines, recognised as the most punctual airline group in the world for the second year running, offers a service from Santiago to Puerto Natales. The three-hour domestic flight will give visitors better access to the vast Patagonian wilderness, via the gateway of Puerto Natales - located 112 kilometres from the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park.

For those looking to get a taste of true, unspoilt Patagonia (away from the tourist hotspots), there is an abundance of remote National Parks, pristine glaciers, breath-taking fjords, ancient caves and lesser-known wildlife watching spots away from the main tourist sites to discover. www.latam.com

Torres del Paine National Park, photo: Chile.travel

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EMBARK ON A GROUP TOUR Latin Routes, the South America tailormade specialists, will operate escorted group tours for the first time in 2020. Founded in 2012, Latin Routes has unveiled two Chilean itineraries from their launch of nine itineraries, across six South American countries. The Chile Explorer itinerary, a 14-day tour, will feature Santiago, Atacama, Puerto Varas and Torrs del Paine National Park. In addition, the Pure Patagonia itinerary, a 17-day tour will visit Argentina and Chile, with Chilean Patagonia highlights including Puerto Varas, Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine. Departures for both tours start in November 2020. www.latinroutes.co.uk/groups

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ENJOY A LUXURY STAY AT THE PURO VIK GLASS HOUSES IN MILLAHUE VALLEY Working in tandem with Vik Chile Hotel, a remarkable collection of glass houses offers a new way to experience Chile’s breath-taking landscapes. Seven new glass houses form the highest category of accommodation on-site.

They hang from the steep hills just below Vik Chile Hotel, in the stunning nature and vineyard of Chile’s Millahue Valley. The hotel is carefully positioned to offer the best vantage points for living in exquisite, cool and romantic luxury while capturing the magnificent dramatic natural surroundings. www.purovik.com

For more information on visiting Chile, visit: www.chile.travel/en

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S T. M O R I T Z , S W I T Z E R L A N D

Taking You to New Heights in St. Moritz

BY PAUL WILLIAMS

The Swiss town of Saint Moritz is known as an enclave synonymous with celebs, royalty and the uber rich - there is a truth to that, but it can be cheaper to ski here than Les Trois Vallées or Whistler. A little bit of savvy research can see you enjoying the beauty of this pristine resort at an affordable cost. Here’s how I did two weeks on a £2250 budget – for two!

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S T. M O R I T Z , S W I T Z E R L A N D

St. Moritz is perfect for a mind-your-ownbusiness type of getaway, something I recommend we all do from time to time ABOUT The British have had an affinity with Switzerland since the days of The Grand Tour introduced many a privileged traveller to the joys of a magical winter and the rejuvenation of an alpine summer.

If you have ever visited Switzerland, the country remains forever alluring; inviting and tranquil, beautiful scenery, warm and welcoming people and a travel infrastructure so spectacularly efficient, one can only but wish for a similar set up in the UK – what, let’s face it, would be deemed a miracle.

High up in the Swiss Alps, St. Moritz is noted for its exclusivity and affiliation with a luxury lifestyle.

I found this to be so far from the truth - locals go about their everyday business, the bars and shops being of the type you’d expect in any town.

There are a few ‘posh’ shops and yep, there are impressive houses that sit here empty for most of the year, but aside all that, St. Moritz is just a great place to visit and can be done on a budget that will surprise you.

GETTING THERE Get the first flight out of London to Zurich on a Sunday. With BA it can cost from as little as £80 return - and it’s only a one hour flight. Then it’s an £80 (return) trip from Zurich to St. Moritz, one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world, around 3.5 hours. Don’t bother taking your ski gear unless you are desperately attached to it - it bumps up the costs and, let’s face it, is a pain in the neck to haul about - I always rent equipment.

Budget left: - £320 for 2 people = £1930

WHEN TO GO Late March/early April - it’s still snowing, fresh powder on the slopes and if you’re lucky you’ll get amazing blue skies around midday, perfect for an on-mountain lunch. But it’s cold so don’t be deceived by the blinding early morning sunlight.

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S T. M O R I T Z , S W I T Z E R L A N D

St. Moritz, Engadin, Graubunden

WHERE TO STAY Airbnb it. I had a fantastic studio apartment looking out over Lake St. Moritz. The views are stunning, a balcony making for compulsory morning coffees al fresco, whatever the weather.

Brilliantly kitted out with a sofa bed, and a fold down single bed, I paid £890 for the 2 weeks.

Budget left: - £890 for two people = £1040

photo: Valentin B. Kremer

PROVISIONS

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St Moritz is a working town with around 5000 inhabitants so has all the amenities of any Swiss town. The main supermarket is Co-op (there is a smaller co-op in the centre) but I used the Denner Express - wine, rösti, fondue, fresh bread and a normal shop including wine came in at around £150 for the whole stay.

Budget left: -£150 for food and drinks = £890

St. Moritz, Engadin, Graubunden

ON THE SLOPES Ski and snowboard areas include Corviglia, Diavolezza and Corvatsch, all accessible from the centre of town - a 15 minute walk from the apartment. Silvaplana is also a 10 minute bus ride away. When getting the bus, make sure you get the correct ticket - I advise going to the tourist office and arranging via there to avoid any confusion between driver and passenger. You can get kitted out at Ski Service Engadin and arrange your lift pass here too. Great service. Skis, helmet and lift pass was £210 for 7 days. We skied one day on, one day off.

The skiing conditions here are perfect in spring, world class slopes and impeccably maintained surfaces make for fast, exhilarating fun. Whether beginner, intermediate or great skier, it’s worth

getting a guide to show you around - Adrian Gilly was our man! Prices can vary depending on your level of ability but start from around £50 for a couple of hours.

Budget left: - £420 for equipment for two people & - £50 for 2 hours guide = £420

ales and Guinness! My favourite place for a tipple is Hotel Schweizerhof - surprisingly cheap given its visage de grandeur. We budgeted at £30 per day, perfectly adequate for a coffee and beer or two whilst out and about.

Budget left: - £420 = £0

GOING OUT

St. Moritz is perfect for a mind-your-own-business type of getaway, something I recommend we all do from time to time. My partner and I enjoyed the near-on social seclusion, fresh air rejuvenating our whole physical being whilst gasping (quite literally - it may take you up to 36 hours to acclimatise) in wonder at the sheer beauty and natural elegance of this town in the sky.

On the mountain, Alto Bar is great for a refresher but the highlight is Restaurant Piz Nair 10’000 feet - stunning views across the valley. St. Moritz is not for people looking for nightlife and in no way suitable for large groups of younger skiers that enjoy the excesses of say Mirabel in France.

At this time of year, après-ski is defined by a few drinks in the centre of town at Hauser RooBar. Bobby’s Pub is like an English pub and handy for those wanting a taste of home - couple of English

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ANGUILLA

Why The A-List Love Anguilla Privacy, a relaxed vibe and luxury accommodation on this Caribbean paradise island are just a few reasons why the entertainment elite love Anguilla.

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ANGUILLA

photo: Anguilla Tourism Board

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ANGUILLA

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t’s no secret that pop queen Adele along with BFFs Harry Styles and James Corden have been enjoying the sand and sunshine of Anguilla, and they’re following in the footsteps of many other celebs including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Justin and Hailey Bieber, LeBron James, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.

Celebrities love the petite and picture-perfect Caribbean island of Anguilla, not only because of its breath-taking beaches and crystal clear waters but also because it offers a more tranquil and private winter sun getaway than flashier neighbouring islands like St. Barts. While you don’t need to be A-list to holiday in Anguilla, here are a few reasons why it’s such a dream destination:

photo: Anguilla Tourism Board

Wellness Wonders Anguilla may well have been a deliberate choice for Adele to show off the results of her health kick - the island has a growing reputation for wellness (not least a dedicated Spa & Wellness Month in June) and offers plenty of ways to rest, restore and rejuvenate. From the Taino Bathing Ritual at Zemi Thai House Spa to the Tropical Spice Body Polish at the Belmond Cap Juluca, you are spoilt for choice where unique pampering treatments are concerned.

A-Listers keen to keep fit on their holidays can enjoy sea-kayaking by day or night, try their hand at SUP (stand-up paddle-boarding), get their steps in on a beach walk or explore the more rugged parts of the island on hikes that reveal some of Anguilla’s most stunning sights. photo: Anguilla Tourism Board

The stunning beaches are less crowded, the incredible azure waters unspoilt and even Hollywood royalty can enjoy relative anonymity amidst the welcoming locals.

Privacy Unlike other paradise islands that attract the jetsetting ‘flashpack’, Anguilla retains a peaceful and relaxing vibe that allows A-listers to feel like they are truly getting away from it all. Paris Hilton famously called the dreamy destination her “secret island” because it allowed her to enjoy a getaway completely undetected until after her departure. The stunning beaches are less crowded, the incredible azure waters unspoilt and even Hollywood royalty can enjoy relative anonymity amidst the welcoming locals. Further privacy-loving stars that have holidayed on the island include Leonardo DiCaprio, Liam Neeson, and former Beatle Paul McCartney.

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Luxury Accommodation With a fresh influx of spectacular luxury hotels and private villas, celebrities can enjoy desert island vibes with all the creature comforts they are accustomed to. The Belmond Cap Juluca, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Zemi Beach House, The Reef by CuisinArt and Malliouhana are just a few of the show-stopping accommodation options discerning travellers can choose from and all of them have been extensively renovated if not wholly recreated in the past two years. The island is also a popular mooring point for yachts for those that prefer to sleep offshore, or islandhop around the region (although strictly no cruise ships allowed!).

ANGUILLA

photo: Anguilla Tourism Board

Breathtaking Beaches For the ultimate romantic getaway, Anguilla won’t be beaten on the ‘wow factor’ where its 33 stunning beaches are concerned. From the infinite blue waters at Meads Bay to the powdersoft golden sands of Shoal Bay East or the vibrant Sandy Ground with its many bars and restaurants, the choice is yours! Enjoy blissful tranquillity or soak up the lively atmosphere and a rum punch or two for instant holiday vibes.

Adrenalin-Fuelled Activities & Once-In-A-Lifetime Experiences Action-loving stars like Justin Bieber, who is never straying far from his ‘boys toys’, can get

their adrenaline fix during a jet-ski ride through the azure waves or a daredevil cliff-jump like basketball royalty LeBron James. And for couples, it doesn’t get more romantic than a horseback ride on the beach, a sunset boat trip or even a ‘glow-in-the-dark’ kayak excursion.

The Local Hospitality Even the most famous of celebrities will be able to relax amongst the down-to-earth, friendly locals, who are used to dealing with A-Listers during the high season in December and January. With an unspoken rule to allow visitors to enjoy the island as the locals do, even international superstars are left to enjoy their holiday in peace.

Harry Styles and Kendall Jenner, for example, were spotted enjoying a low-key dinner together at Blanchards back in 2015, and he recently returned to the renowned eatery with pop star pal Adele. The restaurant, which specialises in a range of Caribbean, Asian, Mediterranean and American cuisine, also has a hugely popular second venue called The Beach Shack, which is perfect for grabbing an ice cream or enjoying sunset cocktails in a relaxed setting. Meanwhile, Justin Bieber delighted his fans while letting his hair down during an impromptu drum session at Viceroy’s Sunset Lounge.

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ANGUILLA

Events not to miss in Anguilla From the annual ‘Summer Festival’ to discovering the island’s ‘Extraordinary Eats’, Anguilla’s cultural and culinary calendar is brimming with events that put it on the discerning traveller’s map as a year-round destination.

photo: Anguilla Tourism Board

April - Extraordinary Eats A vibrant month-long celebration of Anguilla’s rich food culture and culinary arts, which includes the ‘Taste of the Strip’ food market, mixology and cookery classes, talks at the Agriculture Farm, food experiences such as mango or salt picking, a ‘Bake Off’ competition, Chef’s Table menu tastings for both the public and private sector hosted by the Anguilla Tourism Board, and special three-course ‘prix fixe’ menus. The festival will conclude with a ‘grand finale’ dinner prepared by a selection of international chef talent.

April, Easter Weekend - Festival Del Mar A weekend dedicated to the sea and its fruits, Festival Del Mar is celebrated in the beautiful fishing village of Island Harbour with a Deep

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Sea fishing competition, swimming races, crab races, culinary competitions as well as live string band music. The celebrations culminate with the annual Easter Monday Boat Race from Sandy Ground; a fun day of rallies, sport meets, family gatherings and picnics.

May - Annual Anguilla Lit Fest A celebration of ‘books and beaches’, the festival honours Anguilla’s literary heritage and ongoing presence through a packed schedule of talks, workshops and presentations as well as spoken word, hiphop and open mic sessions. The lineup includes New York Times bestselling authors, fresh writing talent, poets, publishers, historians and lecturers as well as the “Pride of Anguilla” home-grown authors and poets.

ANGUILLA

More info Those planning a trip should visit Anguilla Tourism Board’s official website for further accommodation inspiration, as well as the best places to eat and activities to try. www.ivisitanguilla.com HOW TO GET THERE Anguilla’s location in the eastern Caribbean makes getting there part of the adventure.

photo: Anguilla Tourism Board

May/June - Anguilla Day Celebrations The annual holiday celebrations commemorate the beginning of the Anguilla Revolution, which took place in May 1967, and is celebrated by a colourful parade and a round-the-island boat race – the island’s national sport.

June - Wellness Month Promoting the island as a health and wellness destination, visitors can enjoy an abundance of spa packages from a variety of hotels, healthy eating menus at local restaurants, public yoga classes or fitness sessions on the beach and much more!

August - Anguilla Summer Festival The two-week-long Summer Festival is a colourful expression of Anguilla’s culture through dance, song, parades and boat racing. Celebrations include the South Valley Community Street Fair, the Heineken Boat Race at Sandy Ground, Jouvert Morning (Emancipation Day) - which sees people from all over the island dance in the streets at the crack of dawn from The Valley to Sandy Ground beach parties, the annual Eyes Wide Shut Festival, and the kaleidoscopic Parade of Troupes carnival through The Valley to name a few. The 5th Annual Anguilla Poker Run and the Leeward Islands Calypso Show also add to the fun of this vibrant summer festival.

Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic operates an international route departing from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and arriving at Antigua Airport, Antigua and Barbuda (ANU). The flight distance is 4076 miles, or 6560 km.

For direct flights, the flight time varies between 8:45hr and 9:00hr. www.virginatlantic.com 0844 2092 770 TransAnguilla Airways Trans Anguilla Airways is an air charter airline operating to and from Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport to points in the Caribbean Leeward and Windward Islands region. Flights from Antigua depart daily and take less than an hour. www.transanguilla.com (001) (264) 497-8690.

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TBILISI, GEORGIA

A Taste of Tbilisi

BY SARA DARLING

An exotic location bordering Persia, Turkey and Russia, Georgia is a mysterious community, full of contradictions. This modest country has a prime location on the Black Sea, but political turmoil has dogged its history. Walking around parts of Tbilisi can feel like stepping back in time, with its spiralling turrets and Soviet relics; but on closer inspection, you can recognise the seeds breaking through of a new, independent country.

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Tbilisi, photo: Giorgi Gvilava

aving suffered oppression by the Soviet Union, where communism led to corruption and unrest, Georgia’s fortune started to change in 1991. Nowadays, there is still a nod to socialism with the striking Brutalist architecture and ancient, crumbling churches. However, there is a much more optimistic outlook, with investment being pumped into most of the major cities, with the development of luxury hotels with rooftop pools, modern art galleries and edgy fashion designers such as Demna Gvasalia - chief designer at Balenciaga and co-founder of Vetements fashion label, David Koma, Lako Bukia, George Keburia and Lalo, who have gained further recognition from the Mercedes-Benz sponsored Tbilisi Fashion Week.

These contrasts almost physically represent Georgia’s generational gap. Full of complexities, the city certainly seems European - an architectural hybrid of Venice and Istanbul. Traditional narrow streets, wooden shutters and plentiful local squares, including Freedom Square, which is a few minutes walk from the shopping mall, are a hint of old and new. Expect to see traditional accordion players jamming in the street, a blossoming café culture, with terraces of newspaper-reading locals and underground wine bars. Most younger Georgians are keen to embrace the liberalism of Europe and take control of the economic, social and cultural conditions that they are faced with, and forge a new identity. However, you can’t avoid the statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the purported founder of Tbilisi, which takes pride

of place in the historic centre; along with the traditional puppet theatre with its unique working clock, and the Abanotubani sulphur baths which have eye catching, domed brick roofs and are still popular with locals and tourists today.

However, the mustachioed youths on scooters don’t look out of place as they congregate in the centre, or near the cable car, which takes visitors up to the top of the once sombre skyline. This is the home of the Kartlis Deda statue which was erected on top of the city’s Sololaki hill in 1958.

The ‘Mother of Georgia’ is a 20m high aluminium figure, by Georgian sculptor Elguja Amashukeli, and notably holds a sword in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other, and is a nod to the power of women, and wine! This is also a great viewpoint for the impressive Caucasus mountain range, which is a three hour drive towards the Russian border.

Mother of Georgia, photo: Mostafa Meraji

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TBILISI, GEORGIA

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lthough money might still not be plentiful, the local youngsters are finding ways to spend it. Boasting a burgeoning electronic music scene, Tbilisi is gaining a reputation for globally renowned DJs to play at club nights and festivals, as well as supporting local, home-grown talent.

Over the past couple of years, nightlife in Tbilisi has changed a lot - now you can find one record store, LGBTQ+ friendly bars, and new clubbing destinations like Bassiani, that are dedicated to inclusion and progression. Generation Z are transforming the capital into a vibrant city with a flourishing music scene - where you can enjoy everything from live jazz and theme bars to all-night raves. Note that clubs are open only on Fridays and Saturdays, while some bars operate until dawn, so pick your venue carefully. From craft beers to cocktails, and the country’s famous wine, you will certainly not go thirsty in Tbilisi.

The capital is also embracing the arts, with the launch of the country’s first Digital Art Museum.

The innovative showspace is located on the third floor of the central Tbilisi Mall. Covering 500 square metres, this specialist museum exclusively showcases artwork that is created via computer generated images; along with paintings that fuse modern technology with creative arts, and is accessible for all the family.

The Fotografia Gallery focuses on photography, and specialises in limited edition print photography from around Georgia. Founded in 2017, by an American-born photographer, Ryan McCarrel, and Giorgi Rodionov, a Georgian visual artist, the main objective of the gallery is to promote members of the Georgian photographic community who significantly contribute to visual arts.

Other galleries not-to-miss are the Patara Gallery, founded by creatives, Gvantsa Jishkariani and Nata Kipiani, who wanted to create a space for experimental, not-yet-seen art and for gamechanging young artists. Now flourishing, this underpass shop in central Tbilisi has gained a reputation for emerging art shows, and is a hub for experimentation and performance.

With a manifesto of ‘seeking honest or political, sweet or rough, clear or ambiguous, playful or unconventional, stupid or wild, uncomfortable or pleasant, attention seeking or daring’ expect the unexpected here - with exhibitions changing regularly.

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TBILISI, GEORGIA Jishkariani, along with curator Ellen Kapanadze, then went on to open The Why Not Gallery in a city centre location, amongst shops selling fake brands, religious artefacts and fruit and vegetables. The project aspires to introduce cutting edge artists to a wider audience, as well as stimulating the local art scene by showcasing exciting international creatives. Creating a hub for contemporary art that conveys a strong message allows art to step away from its elitist connotations, and is juxtaposed with everyday life.

From shopping malls to flea markets, Dry Bridge in Didube is the place to have a rummage. The massive market is now the link to both sides of the river, and is open daily for those who like to rummage. The east side sells everything from Soviet Era artefacts, antiques, jewellery and cutlery, while the west trades knick-knaks, art work and second-hand clothes.

Tbilisi, photo: Artem Bryzgalov

The area leading from Dinamo Arena is another Tbilisi institution. Take time to explore the eclectic web of fresh products, shoes, wine merchants, gold and jewellery at the Dimano Market. Give yourself time to get lost amongst the labyrinth of stalls where you’ll find anything from Soviet memorabilia to household items and artwork.

Close by is one of the outstanding additions to modern architecture - the Bridge of Peace, which joins Rike Park and the ‘old’ part of the town. It

photo: Yevgen Kyrylko

is a pedestrian glass and steel bridge in a bowshaped design that sits over the Mtkvari (Kura) river. Designed by the Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, the bridge was officially opened in May 2010 and was transported to Georgia from Italy in 200 unassembled components. It is 156 meters long and has more than 10,000 LED bulbs built-in, that are switched on daily 90 minutes before sunset.

It goes without saying that Georgia is a wine lovers paradise, as it is widely believed that they were the first wine producers in the world. In fact, the word “wine” is derived from “gvino” – the Georgian word for wine. Archaeological remains suggest that as early as 6000 BC, grape juice was placed in underground jars to ferment during the winter, which suggests a long and commendable association, and today the method is listed as part of UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, visitors are welcomed to join the owners in their wine cellars, whether for one drink or a whole night.

Whatever season you visit, you will be welcomed with open arms, as the locals are so friendly.

Determined to share their delicious food (especially the khachapuri - leavened cheese bread), wine and dancing. Accommodation ranges from home-stays to boutique hotels to five star luxury, and any visit will involve exploring, history and a very good reason to come back.

The Bridge of Peace, Tbilisi

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N E VA D A , U S A

Fabulous Family Offerings in Nevada Nevada’s combination of unique culture, exhilarating activities and breath-taking scenery makes it a must visit for every family.

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N E VA D A , U S A

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nown as ‘The Silver State’, Nevada has an abundance of fabulous offerings fit for the whole family. Varying from weird and wonderful annual events, to exciting culinary experiences, or an adrenaline fuelled adventure, Nevada has it all. Families can kick back and relax at the beautiful Edgewood Tahoe, where adults can find themselves in the spa and kids can splash about on the shores of Lake Tahoe. For a family of thriller-seekers, the Flightlinez zipline over the Bootleg Canyon offers some of the best views over the state and will certainly send the senses soaring. Nevada’s combination of unique culture, exhilarating activities and breath-taking scenery makes it a must visit for every family.

Power through Pahrump Valley Speedway Situated an hour outside of Las Vegas, the revving engines at Pahrump Valley Speedway can almost be heard from the Strip. Families seeking a thrill should head to one of the only clay-based, high speed, high-banked quarter mile dirt tracks in the whole of the U.S. Brightly coloured, old school race cars can be raced around this brilliant track, with different divisions available, there is a race the whole family can get involved in. For those who prefer to remain out of the vehicle then that’s not a problem either, as Pahrump Valley Speedway won’t fail to get everyone’s hearts racing. Family members can avidly support their chosen car as it races around the track, with loud cheers and roaring engines this is a truly exciting experience for all. For more information please visit: www.pahrumpvalleyspeedway.weebly.com Hit up the latest opening of Hell’s Kitchen In January 2020, Ramsey opened the third set of doors to the famed Hell’s Kitchen in Lake Tahoe.

Providing a fabulous and unique dining experience for the whole family, this Hell’s Kitchen merges old and new features together, allowing the restaurant to develop its own personality. Held up by rustic wooden beams the restaurant certainly has a definitive Tahoe feel to it. Yet everyone’s favourite signature dishes remain on the menu.

After an exciting day exploring Lake Tahoe, families can sink their teeth into a sensational series of Ramsey classics, ranging from the beef Wellington to the sticky toffee pudding, creating the true Hell’s Kitchen experience that the whole family will always remember. Bookings to the restaurant can be made here: www.caesars.com/harveys-tahoe/restaurants/ gordon-ramsay-hells-kitchen

Burner Byway, High Rock Canyon

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N E VA D A , U S A

Seven Magic Mountains

Flightlinez, Bootleg Canyon

Discover The Great Outdoors at Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe is a haven for families, and with 72 miles of pristine shoreline, it is not hard to see why the fresh water lake is known as the jewel of Nevada. The sheer size of Lake Tahoe makes it the perfect destination for a two week family summer holiday, but it also makes a great stopping point for families keen to hit the open road and experience more of the state. Families can check into hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Hotel or The Lodge at Edgewood, which are situated on the shoreline of the lake, making it an ideal place for parents to relax whilst the kids can explore the private beaches. When it comes to activities available, Lake Tahoe really is a family’s oyster. On the lake, families can try stand-up paddle boarding, jet-skiing, swimming and boat tours which travel to Lake Tahoe’s lesser known crevices. Those chasing views should head inland and enjoy one of the many bike trails that are available of varying difficulties, but guaranteed to provide a stunning view of the lake from every angle. For more information please visit: www.travelnevada.com/discover/30637/ lake-tahoe Prepare to be Stunned at the Seven Magic Mountains Families who are keen to experience something a little out of the ordinary, should head to the Seven Magic Mountains. Located in the arid desert just outside of Las Vegas, the Seven Magic Mountains offers a quirky day out for families, as they visit one of the most Instagrammable art installations available. The Seven Magic Mountains consists of brightly coloured boulders stacked on top of each

other, which dramatically jut out against the vast desert mountain range that encircles them. This is a fabulous outing for families who are staying in Las Vegas and want to escape the city, or for those journeying down one of Nevada’s many exciting road trip routes. Whatever the reason for visiting, it is guaranteed to provide the best family photo backdrop to date. For more information please visit: www.travelnevada.com/discover/37536/ seven-magic-mountains Fly Down The Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon Absorb the Nevada scenery from a perspective like no other on the Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon Zipline, which undoubtedly offers some of the best views in the whole of the West. At sixty miles per hour, visitors will glide over the Bootleg Canyon, offering spectacular views of Boulder City, Lake Mead and the El Dorado Valley. This exhilarating activity is perfect for families, as it is certain to get adrenaline pumping and will provide a memory that will last a lifetime. The zip-line can also cater to more than one person to soar over the canyon at a time, meaning visitors can share the experience with someone else. Located only a half hour drive outside of Las Vegas it offers a wonderful family adventure that opens visitors’ eyes to the expansive Silver State that is Nevada.

For more information please visit: www.travelnevada.com/discover/27314/ flightlinez-bootleg-canyon For more information on the fabulous family activities available in the state of Nevada, please visit: www.travelnevada.com

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ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO

Essaouira – Morocco’s Windy City

BY SERENA BHANDARI

Essaouira (pronounced essa-weera), is a city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Known as the ‘Wind City of Africa’, it is bypassed by hoards of sun-worshipping tourists each year due its strong “Alizée” trade winds, the same winds which make the city’s beach popular for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. This port city has plenty of traditional culture and character to experience, as Serena Bhandari finds out on her recent visit...

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ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO

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ssaouira is known as Morocco’s windy city, and stepping off the plane it was obvious why. Essaouira experiences on average 320 days of sunshine a year, but it would seem that due to its coastal location the majority of those days are accompanied by significant winds – which lends to its reputation for windsurfing, kite-surfing and watersports. Thanks to the recent launch of Ryanair flights twice weekly from Stansted, I was able to head out and experience the joys of Essaouira for myself.

The trip began at Le Jardin des Douars, a luxurious hotel just outside Essaouira set within its own botanical garden on the Ksob River. The hotel boasts two heated swimming pools as well as three dining areas – a large open plan restaurant, unique couples dining room and outdoor terrace area – and its own hammam and spa. Upon arrival I was ushered towards a large seating area by the restaurant’s grand fireplace and, with sesame pastries and a warm cup of Moroccan mint tea in hand, I began to plan my time in Essaouira.

Obviously a must-see on my list was the town of Essaouira itself. Home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the form of its 18th century medina. Only a 12 minute shuttle from the hotel, Essaouira is full of market stalls selling traditional furnishings, colourful woven clothing and

aromatic street foods. You could spend hours shopping about for bargains in the marketplaces of the medina, seeking out the perfect gifts for friends and family back home; in contrast to the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, local traders are much more relaxed about bartering and are very happy to engage in long discussions with visitors to their town.

Whilst Essaouira has pop culture ties to Jimi Hendrix, who visited the town in the late 1960s, a more recent link comes in the form of Essaouira’s role in Game of Thrones. It acted as the setting for Season Three’s Astapor, the town where Daenarys Targaryen meets the Unsullied – and luckily the most recognisable locations are accessible to visitors. The appeal of climbing up the Skala du Port won’t be lost on those who aren’t Game of Thrones fans however, as the fort itself provides scenic views of the sea, as well as the city’s famous bright blue wooden fishing boats.

At the end of a day’s sightseeing in Essaouira, dinner will almost definitely be in order. During my time in the city, I ate at chic hangout spot The Loft; my squid and shrimp tagliatelle was to die for, the portions were large, and whilst it was perhaps pricier than other Essaouira food options, this was reflected in the quality of the meal.

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ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO

At the end of my time in Essaouira, I felt satisfied, sun-tanned and filled with good food; and that is the sign of a trip well done.

Heading back to the hotel, however, one is also greeted with numerous culinary options. Jardin des Douars provides a different set menu every day – whilst I was there, options included various tagines, soups and delicious looking desserts – as well as an a la carte menu providing traditional Moroccan food alongside Western fare. The real highlight of Jardin des Douar’s cuisine, however, was the Sunday barbecue buffet. Heading down to the terrace dining area I was met with assorted grilled meats and seafood, a huge variety of salads and traditional cold dishes and more desserts than I could even imagine. A personal favourite of mine were the monkfish skewers, whilst my travel companion was more than impressed by the potato and shrimp salad – but we both agreed that overall it was a delightful

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culinary experience, only made better by the warm weather and beautiful surroundings.

Next up was a trip to the hotel’s hammam steam room, where I was scrubbed and pampered with local oils and scrubs until my skin was the softest it’s ever been. For the remainder of the second day in Essaouira, I headed down to the beach at Sidi Kaouki to relax with some great seafood. I wasn’t disappointed by our restaurant of choice, La Mouette et les Dromadaires, choosing to eat a seabass tartare and a selection of vegetarian salads. After this little snack it was time for a wander down the beach. If you wanted to you could ride camels or horses across the sand, but we chose not to do this for fear of wasting our lunch!

L O C AT I O N

On our final day, for the highlight of the trip we took a recommendation from the hotel and headed back into town and to the L’Atelier Madada for a Moroccan cooking course. Having eaten a fair amount of tagine during our stay, we weren’t done yet as we opted into learning to make a harira vegetable soup and a beef, date and almond tagine. The workshops cater for up to eight attendees but when we booked, my companion and I were the only ones in the class. Led by a friendly team of two, a talented chef and trilingual presenter, we were taught the importance of using a traditional tagine, as well as techniques for making tagine sauce from onions, skinning tomatoes and caramelising dates amongst other things. Following this, the presenter took us down to the marketplace for

a guided explanation of the key spices used in Moroccan cooking; this made for a nice touch and a good way to make use of the time prior to our dishes being complete. The final product was to die for, and luckily they provide the recipes for use back home – I will definitely be preparing that beef tagine again.

At the end of my time in Essaouira, I felt satisfied, sun-tanned and filled with good food; and that is the sign of a trip well done.

Travel Information Ryanair fly between London Stansted and Essaouira twice per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Essaouira airport is located 15 minutes from Le Jardin des Douars and a shuttle service is available. Marrakech is about three hours away. www.ryanair.com/gb/en Le Jardin des Douars B&B priced from around £115 per room, per night or £500 per villa, per night.

15% OFF - 3rd November – 21st December package - Save 15% on 3-night stays or more www.jardindesdouars.com

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ORKNEY ISLANDS, SCOTLAND

Touring the Orkney Islands

BY PAUL WILLIAMS

With a chance to venture north of the British mainland, I jumped at the opportunity. Tagging along with a small group excursion to Kirkwall on the Orkney archipelago, I left wanting more as one of these unique isles began to reveal its spellbinding ancient past.

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he Orkney Islands, always on the radar, but never made it - it’s fascinated me for years since watching a documentary about the Stone Age village of Skara Brae, one of Britain’s most important prehistoric sites. But aside this incredible monument to the distant past, the archipelago is steeped in Nordic history, and along with immense tales of hardship endured by generations of islanders thanks to the ever changing and dramatic weather patterns, this beautiful and to an extent mostly unspoiled landscape is an absolute must for those looking for a bit more than a usual tourist plod along. Thanks to Scottish travel gurus, Rabbie’s, I paid a visit to the islands’ capital Kirkwall and its surrounds.

ORKNEY ISLANDS, SCOTLAND

View towards Hoy and Hoy Sound, photo: Orkney.com

Dunrobin Castle

Rackwick, Hoy, Orkney, photo: Orkney.com-Colin Keldie

It’s raining. I mean pissing it. Not really a surprise given I’m in Inverness in late autumn, but then it only adds to the ambience, surely? Like Cornwall and North Wales, Scotland, more or less my second home given my family connections up here, retains a certain splendour and beauty during a wild, windy downpour. I’m used to it - I love it. After a one night stay at one of the city’s premium guesthouses, Moyness House - seriously, this gaff should be noted for its excellent service and incredibly plush interior - I’m up at first light to meet my driver and the rest of the guys that will make up our party on this trip.

ALL HAIL Colin the driver! “You look familiar!” he says to me - our paths have never crossed. But I guess I have one of those faces - anyway, Colin’s

sound, a rare breed, knowledgeable, great laugh from the start, and warmly welcomes us aboard the mini bus, an eclectic bunch making up his passengers; a Canadian couple, an American couple, a lady from India, a lady from Switzerland and, er, moi. We depart Inverness at 8am to make our way up the north east coast of Scotland to catch the ferry to Orkney - with a few stops along the way….

Dunrobin Castle Likely built on the site of a medieval fort, the current building is a beautiful example of Scottish Baronial/French renaissance inspired architecture, set on an idyllic coastline. Home to the earls and now dukes of Sutherland since inception, the castle is a must see stop off. Dunrobin Castle is open annually from 1st April to 31st October.

Knowledgeable Colin gives us the lowdown on the history of the family and the building, an eye opener to the uneducated with a timeline from the dark ages up to the current day.

Helmsdale This fishing village has a colourful, eccentric past - the gold rush of the mid 1800s and a sad, historical timeline during the Highland Clearances - to the south of the town, a memorial statue stands as a poignant reminder of the devastating effects the clearances had on the communities that relied on land as a source of livelihood etc.

Today the town is a quiet yet tourist friendly place with visitors from around the world. Ardent fly fishers use the Helmsdale river, highly revered in circles associated with country sports.

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ORKNEY ISLANDS, SCOTLAND

St Magnus Cathedral, photo: Orkney.com

Kirbuster Farm Museum, Orkney, photo: Orkney.com

Kirkwall Making our way to meet the ferry, operated by Pentland Ferries at Gills Bay, Colin gives us a bit of highland musical therapy (via the stereo - he didn’t burst into song although I’m sure he’s contemplated it) and not a peep from any of us as we anticipate our jolly across to Orkney. We’re all obviously content; it’s been a good ride thus far.

The crossing takes about an hour, weather permitting - it’s so changeable, almost immediate, so be prepared, even in summer. The cool breeze across the Scapa Flow channel can become a gale in seconds, but its brilliant - the journey, although relatively short, is what I am now declaring as ‘geographically of international significance’- the headland of the Isle of Britain behind us and Orkney archipelago ahead of us. Lest we forget Scapa Flow’s military history too.

Arriving in St Margaret’s Hope, we depart the ferry

and make our way to Kirkwall along roads built on the Churchill Barriers (permanent defences against German U Boat attacks during WWII), the rusty remnants of scuttled World War II vessels dotting the inner coastline. It must have been savage up here.

Kirkwall is a delightful town with a surprisingly cosmopolitan feel in one street with its wine bars and good eateries, and an old worldly feel in another. Mix the two and it makes for a good night out: locals, tourists, oil and shipping workers - whatever your moniker whilst you’re here there’s plenty to do - ahem, a lot revolved around whisky for some reason…

St Magnus Cathedral Dominating the centre of Kirkwall is St Magnus Cathedral, dating back to the 1100s. I won’t hark on about its history as that’s what you’ll no doubt be intrigued to find out about when in situ, but

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the Nordic connection with the islands starts to fall into place - St Magnus was of Norwegian descent, being an earl of Orkney whose flag is now the modern day flag of Orkney - it has a Nordic cross emblazoned on it. Anyway, take time out to wander the magnificent interior and stand in awe of its stained glass windows.

Skara Brae The incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site of Skara Brae at the Bay of Skaill, is Britain’s foremost example of neolithic domestic dwellings. The eight houses, discovered after a storm in 1850, reveal a fascinating insight to the lives of the ancient people who existed here. It has recently been discovered that the site is larger than originally theorised, with evidence via geophysical radar analysis of the village being more town-like in size. Make sure you ask the on site archaeologists to show you the geophysical maps they have at reception - it will astonish you.

ORKNEY ISLANDS, SCOTLAND

Skara Brae, Orkney, photo: Orkney.com

Maeshowe The burial chamber at Maeshowe is the finest chambered tomb in north west Europe and is more than 5,000 years old. Viking crusaders broke into the cairn in the 12th century and carved graffiti runes on the walls of the main chamber, still in evidence today that, with the help of a translating guide, will have you in stitches. It’s a tight squeeze - if you’re claustrophobic, you may want to admire it from the outside, but if you want to make a real step into the time of the ancients, bend over and head up that tunnel!

Kirbuster Farm Museum Kirbuster Museum is a ‘left as it was’ farm house that was occupied up until the 1960s. With an Edwardian parlour and Victorian garden, the site typifies island life through the recent past.

Life must have been harsh, but those peat fires will have kept the home fires burning ok. Still containing furniture and possessions left by its

final owners, this is well worth a visit and, with free admission, should not be overlooked.

Italian Chapel Orkney was home to Italian prisoners during World War II who became part of the community, even though their freedom was somewhat restricted. Given permission by the British commanding officer, the prisoners built a chapel which, after recent restoration work, still stands to this day. The Italian/Orkney friendship is prevalent with annual services to recognise the church and honour those who built it.

Kirkwall and its surrounds are utterly unique, a testament to surviving the elements, embracing modernity and celebrating its recent and ancient past. This trip, organised by Rabbie’s, is one of the best small group excursions I’ve been on, thanks largely in part to our driver and guide Colin. His interaction, knowledge, camaraderie and genuine

love for what he does was reflected in the group’s jovial nature who engaged with each other, enjoying a few beers, having a laugh, and making new friends along the way - and let’s face it, these are what small tours should be all about.

Rabbie’s nail it.

Travel Information The tour attended was the Orkney Explorer lasting 4 days, prices from £139 per person.

For further information, Contact Rabbie’s on 0131 226 3133 | www.rabbies.com To find everything you need to plan your visit to Orkney, along with information on living, working and studying in the islands visit www.orkney.com

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C R OAT IA

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C R OAT IA

Perfectly Peculiar Places to Visit in Croatia Croatia is a destination that is on every traveller’s bucket list and is quickly becoming one of the top vacation destinations in Europe.

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eyond the medieval streets of Dubrovnik and the sun-kissed beaches of Split, there are numerous quirky cities just waiting to be explored. From the smallest city in the world and the oldest town in Europe, to the lowest island in the Adriatic and the oldest cathedral in the world, Croatia is home to rich, unique and fascinating heritage which makes it an ideal destination for those looking to explore off the beaten track.

Mother of Georgia, photo: Mostafa Meraji

Hum: The smallest town in the world Located in the heart of Istria in the municipality of Buzet, Hum is the smallest town in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, and it is really quite unusual. Here visitors will experience something very different, as Hum is without large buildings, traffic or busy streets. Rather, it is a quaint and petite portion of paradise where travellers can wander the streets and absorb the rich history of this untouched and unmodernised city. Perched at the top of an Istrian hill, it is enclosed by city walls where there are only seventeen inhabitants, two streets, two churches and one small tavern where visitors can sample the local biska, a Croatian brandy based on a recipe that is centuries old. Even the route to enter the city is fascinating, as tourists can travel through the Glagolitic Alley, a road between Roc and Hum, along which impressive stone monuments are located in the surrounding fields. For those who crave city experiences, but are tired of the hustle and bustle, this is the ideal place to gain a snapshot of Croatian culture that has remained static for hundreds of years.

St. Nicholas’ Fortress: Unlock secrets to a historic Croatian defence system This unusual island fortress is part of the Venetian Defensive System and has recently been inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites, making it a must visit for any culture vulture.

This impressive fortress was built in the 16th century to protect the town from attacks from the Ottoman Turks, and with its unique and sturdy structure, it became the strongest fort on the Croatian coast. Jutted out to sea, St Nicholas’ fortress makes for an incredible view where travellers can envision it to be busy and bustling with Croatian soldiers waiting for battle. Located in Šibenik, this is a wonderful place to visit for anyone interested in seeing one of Croatia’s grandest pieces of architecture.

St. Nicholas’ Fortress

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C R OAT IA Vinkovci: The oldest Croatian and European city Nestled along the Bosut River, Vinkovci has been inhabited by locals for 8,300 years and continues to remain a home to many. This city is highly aesthetic, with an array of buildings that are different and quirky colours, making it a wonderful place for tourists to get that perfect Instagram shot. Travellers can delve into the city’s history and heritage as archaeological exploration has shown there to be traces of an older phase of the Starcevo culture from the 7th century BC. Vinkovci is also home to an annual cultural and economic event called “Vinkovci Autumn” which has been occurring for over three decades in the month of September. This festival brings together all those who are lovers of cultural heritage, dialects and old customs, and is highly important to Croatia.

Vinkovci, photo: Sergio Gobbo

Krapanj: The Croatian Venice Only 300 metres adrift from mainland Croatia, Krapanj is the lowest island in the Adriatic, set in the Šibenik archipelago. The highest point on the island is a mere 1.25 metres, making it the perfect destination to explore on foot, while discovering everything this ancient island paradise has to offer. Lovers of island life can lose themselves as they amble along the stone streets lined with houses that look like they belong on a film set, or explore a forest that is centuries old. Historically, the island was originally famous for sponge making, and the Krapanj sponges are highly valued all over the world. This idyllic island should definitely be on the bucket list for those who crave the island lifestyle.

The Cathedral of St. Domnius: The oldest cathedral in the world Dating all the way back to the 4th century, The St. Domnius Cathedral is rich with both history and beauty. Located in the Diocletian’s Palace, it has a towering gothic bell tower, where visitors can climb the hundreds of steps and feast their eyes on breath-taking views over Split city. Travellers who stop by in May can also experience the Flower Festival which is held in the Diocletian Palace’s substructures, making it a fabulous opportunity for flower fans to visit the cathedral and treat themselves to the finest Croatian flowers. Not only is Split a city with ample to offer in terms of adventure, gastronomy and glorious beaches, being home to the oldest cathedral in the world means it certainly isn’t short of culture either.

Krapanj, photo: Ivo Biocina

The Cathedral of St. Domnius

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C R OAT IA

Sakarun Beach, Dugi Island, photo: Aleksandar Gospic

What's happening in Croatia in 2020 Rijeka, 2020’s European Capital of Culture Rijeka has just received the prestigious title of the European Capital of Culture for 2020, yet it still remains a hidden gem of the Adriatic. Rijeka will provide a dynamic travel experience in 2020, from culture and vibrant nightlife to intriguing festivals.

Located in the Kvarner region, Rijeka has stunning coastline views and offers travellers the chance to explore the gateway to Croatia’s islands. Rijeka offers a truly authentic Croatian experience for those looking to visit a vibrant city that lies off the beaten track.

Pula Film Festival – July 2020 Pula, home to the world’s oldest national festival will welcome the 67th annual film festival in July 2020. Held in the remarkable architecture of the Pula amphitheatre, it provides a cinematic spectacle like no other. The festival showcases and celebrates cinema from all over the world, from French new-wave, to modernism cinema, independent films and, of course, Croatian cinema. Visitors to the festival can also make the most of exploring Pula, a city steeped in history, with stunning coastlines and Roman ruins waiting to be explored.

Sailing Into Autumn – September 2020 With over a thousand islands and a thousand things to do and see, there is no better way to explore Croatia than by boat. Take to the bright blue waters in September and float between the islands, each home to their own unique portions of paradise. Travellers can feast on a Mediterranean diet and sample Croatia’s finest seafood, whilst watching the sun set over the Adriatic. For those looking to absorb as much of Croatia’s rich and diverse culture as possible, sailing is the best mode of travel, with national parks, blue caves, world heritage sites and wineries ready to be discovered.

For more information please visit the Croatian National Tourist Board website: https://croatia.hr/en-GB

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M AU R I T I U S

Explore and Relax in Mauritius

BY KATIE SAUNDERS

Sitting in Coast2Coast, the all-day dining area at Maradiva Resort and Spa Mauritius, I was happily taking it all in. With views of white sand, palm trees, the most inviting blue sea and majestic mountains topped off with a tropical climate making this a truly magical destination.

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A

t Maradiva there is a lot to do and experience.

The five-star luxury resort is a member of the exclusive ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ group, perfect for those seeking a stunning and private personalised Mauritian experience.

Synonmous with romance, given the island’s renown for honeymooners, the resort does cater for everyone. Boasting 46 Luxury Suite Pool Villas, 11 Beachfront Luxury Suite Pool Villas, 6 Exclusive Suite Pool Villas and two Presidential Suite Pool Villas, you’re spoilt for choice, at a price that guarantees privacy and faultless service.

Aerial shot of resort

Presidential Suite

Maradiva Main pool

Maradiva Spa - Treatment room

The resort has a wonderfully welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. My room was a perfect and private sanctuary, elegantly decorated throughout with beautiful bedding, spacious bathroom, stylish bathtub, a huge walk-in sho= wer and a separate outdoor shower. The private pool is an added bonus - taking a dip first thing in the morning is compulsory and hopping into the pool again late at night whilst looking up at the stars is blissful.

There are three restaurants at Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa. Coast2Coast, an all-day-dining restaurant serving Mediterranean, Mauritian and International cuisines. It operates in buffet style for breakfast and à la carte for lunch, whilst for dinner the chef presents a special menu every evening. Cilantro is the temple of modern Indian gastronomy enhanced by a wide selection of international wines. The design is romantic.

Guests can dine indoors or outside, and enjoy drinks in the lounge before or after dinner.

Classic Indian sitar music is played three times a week. Teppan offers an exciting Japanese dining experience with a kitchen in the centre; watch as one of the best Japanese chefs on the island prepares your food. Thai and Indochinese dishes are also served, all cooked from fresh with great enthusiasm and masterful technique.

The resort has a wonderfully welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.

My room was a perfect and private sanctuary.

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M AU R I T I U S If you can peel yourself away from the resort, there is plenty of culture and history to discover on the island of Mauritius. It’s not often you get to see where an Island ‘came from’, but here you can see where it all began. Mauritius has four main volcanoes, thankfully they lie dormant and have done for many, many years. One of the four volcanoes that created Mauritius is called Trou aux Cerfs. It’s a monogenetic volcano, which means it has only erupted once. It’s now a beautiful 80m deep overgrown green crater approximately 605m high located in Curepipe - a must-see for anyone visiting the island.

See the beauty that is Ganga Talao, commonly known as Grand Bassin, a crater lake situated in a secluded mountain area in the district of Savanne and considered the most sacred Hindu site in Mauritius. Hindus visit to meditate, chant, make offerings and pray. It serves as an important pilgrim site during Maha Shivaratri. It’s also home to cheeky little monkeys who show their intelligence and funny nature as they join in on the action and feast on the fruit offerings left by visitors. Visit the temple to receive an optional personal blessing and enjoy the tranquil lake.

It is free to visit.

Immerse yourself in the island’s history by visiting Château de Labourdonnais, a restored Victorian mansion on a sugarcane plantation. It’s incredible walking through the house, with its 19th-century colonial architecture - a place of grandeur.

Exploring and strolling along the impressive balcony that winds around both floors, then gazing across the beautiful gardens to admire the stunning red-flowered flamboyant trees. There is a fantastic cooling system with large doors in each room that open on both sides of the house to keep the air circulating. Take time at the end of your visit to take a seat at the estate’s tasting bar and sample their delicious range of rums and fruit juices made by the estate’s distillery.

Visit the capital city, Port Louis, busy like any other city across the world, it is the country’s economic, cultural and political centre. Furthermore there are traditional eateries, modern shopping, and an authentic market. We visited La Bonne Marmite for a taste of traditional Mauritian dining and visited the market shortly after, full of magical trinkets! You’ll be able to pick up hats and other handmade designs for a third of the price compared to the main shops in shopping centres.

It’s well worth a rummage!

Grand Bassin, Ganga Talao, photo: Ly Hoang Long

Grand Bassin, Ganga Talao, photo: Jeremy Wermeille

Black River Gorges National Park, photo: Fabienne Sypowski-Meyer

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M AU R I T I U S

To see Port Louis from a different viewpoint, take a drive up to Citadel Fort Adelaide. From this height, you can see across the whole city, the mountains, the port and the sea. Citadel is the only one out of the four forts in Mauritius that hasn’t ended up in ruins and still resembles a fortress with cannons. Built by the Brits in the 19th Century when William IV held land in Port Louis, it was built in a Moorish style to protect the British Army from the enemy. Nowadays it’s a wonderful place to visit and experience the history of the Island – and it’s free to visit.

For nature lovers, bird watchers and trekkers, the Black River Gorges National Park is one of the most diverse environments on the planet.

Facilities for visitors include two information centres, picnic areas and 60 kilometres of trails. The views are breathtaking and make for a beautiful afternoon outing.

FIND OUT MORE Air Mauritius Fly effortlessly from London Heathrow www.airmauritius.com Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa Wolmar Coastal Road, Flic en Flac, Mauritius, 90519 +230 403 1500 info@maradiva.com www.maradiva.com Château de Labourdonnais Mapou, Mauritius +230 266 3007 www.domainedelabourdonnais.com

My stay at Maradiva was special; time slows down, the days are long and the island itself offers the visitor so much. The choice is yours - relax in the luxurious surrounds at the resort or get out and let your inquisitive side run free by exploring the island. Either way, you’ll want to come back again.

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MANITOBA

Top Five New Experiences in Manitoba

Located within the heart of Canada, bordered by Saskatchewan and Ontario; North Dakota and Minnesota, Manitoba is a multi-cultural hub of exploration and adventure, spanning over 250 square miles. Home to a spectacular variety of wildlife and natural wonders including the northern lights, Churchill is named the polar bear and beluga whale capital of the world. We’ve got a round up of new outdoor adventure and wildlife tours and excursions in Churchill…

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UNDERSTAND THE ‘CHIRPS AND WHISTLES’ OF CHURCHILL’S BELUGA WHALES

New in 2020 and launching in July, Frontiers North Adventure’s six-day tour, Conservation Journey: Beluga Whales, combines field education and adventure. The trip ventures into the Churchill River estuary, where over 4,000 beluga whales swim into the warm, shallow waters each summer to feed and give birth. The tour is accompanied by leading beluga whale researcher and ocean scientist, Valeria Vergara, who is on hand to teach travellers about beluga whale biology and ocean health, as well as the behaviour and the ‘chirps and whistles’ of Churchill’s beluga whales. Partial proceeds from the tour are donated to Ocean Wise, a global ocean conservation organisation to help achieve its vision of a world where oceans are healthy and flourishing. www.frontiersnorth.com/adventures/ conservation-journey-beluga-whales

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EXPERIENCE AQUAGLIDING AND GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL TO BELUGA WHALES

Last summer, Lazy Bear Expeditions launched AquaGliding, a water adventure enabling travellers to glide on a floating mat, tethered to a Zodiac, on the Churchill River or Hudson Bay and watch the beluga whales in their natural habitat.

This year, the tour operator is introducing a new glass-bottomed-catamaran for travellers to view the whales without getting wet! www.lazybearlodge.com/expeditions/ aquagliding

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MANITOBA

Beluga Whales

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MANITOBA

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EMBARK ON A WILDLIFE AND WELLNESS TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Combining intimate wildlife encounters with guided wellness and mindfulness activities, travellers can enjoy four days of hiking, meditation, and fitness classes with Corrina AnnePoss of Limitless Motion on Churchill Wild’s new wildlife and wellness package. Staying at Nanuk Polar Bear Lodge, travellers are surrounded by a diverse ecosystem which is home to Canadian icons, including polar bears, black bears, wolves and moose. Come sundown, travellers can enjoy the northern lights shimmering across the night sky. With an average of 300 days of aurora activity in northern Manitoba, guests may be lucky enough to take part in an outdoor yoga session under the aurora. www.churchillwild.com/adventures/ wildlife-and-wellness

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ENJOY THE COLOURS OF CHURCHILL THIS AUTUMN

Travellers can experience the autumnal colours of Churchill from land, water and sky.

Soaring over the vast tundra in a helicopter, travellers can enjoy views of Hudson Bay’s coastline and the town of Churchill from above.

There will be a chance to spot polar bears, beluga whales, moose, caribou, red and arctic fox, ptarmigan and arctic hare on the tundra in fall. On the ground, travellers will learn about Churchill’s cultural and natural heritage with a Parks Canada presentation, as well as go on a guided interpretive walk to see the colours of the boreal forest come to life. www.lazybearlodge.com/expeditions/ colours-lights-arctic-adventure

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SPEND THE NIGHT UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN CHURCHILL

Travellers looking to tick off the Northern Lights from their bucket list should look no further than Nanuk Operations’ award winning ‘Nights Under Lights’ Aurora viewing tour in Churchill.

The tour offers the very best of Churchill in the winter, including cosy evenings in a modern yurt nestled in the boreal forest to view the Northern Lights as well as dog sledding, hikes and town tours of Churchill and its famous sites. www.nightsunderlights.com/ tours-and-prices

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MANITOBA About Travel Manitoba Travel Manitoba is the only public/private non-profit tourism marketing organisation that provides a province-wide platform to promote Manitoba as a premier travel destination. Travel Manitoba is a Crown corporation whose role is to provide leadership by collaborating with tourism businesses. To find out more please visit: www.travelmanitoba.com

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5 EUROPEAN CITY BREAKS

5 European City Breaks

BY SERENA BHANDARI

Forget the long haul holidays and explore somewhere closer to home. European city breaks are good for so many reasons, all you need is a long weekend and a guide book (or a smart phone), and if you love it, it’s easy to go back!

We’re sharing which five fantastic European cities we think everyone should explore.

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5 EUROPEAN CITY BREAKS

Prague Bridges, photo: Libor Svรกcek, CCCR-Czech Tourism

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photo: Kelsey Kurtis

PRAGUE

Prague is the wonderful capital of the Czech Republic – beautiful, full of history and just small enough to experience all the main attractions within a long weekend. But what exactly does a trip to Prague involve? First off, perhaps the most iconic experience in Prague is walking across the Charles Bridge, while taking in views of Prague Castle and the rest of the city.

The bridge is almost 700 years old and its wellworn cobblestones have carried residents across the Vltava river for centuries. Next up, visiting the aforementioned castle is a must, before heading over to the old town square to experience the animated astronomical clock as it chimes every hour.

Once you’ve covered these three main sites, it’s definitely time for a break. Sit down in a Czech pub and treat yourself to a traditional meal, accompanied by an incredibly cheap, and

incredibly tasty, Czech beer! If meat, dumplings and potatoes don’t tickle your fancy, a littleknown fact is that Prague is home to many top notch Vietnamese eateries, so get yourself a bowl of pho and keep on sightseeing.

Using the trams or subway system, you’ll want to head out of the town centre to the communistera Žižkov television tower’s viewing deck for a panoramic view over the entire city. Following with the historical theme, the Museum of Communism is also an incredible experience. Whilst you might find the contents of the museum shocking and depressing at times, it serves as a poignant reminder of the conditions that once existed in much of Europe and is well worth a visit.

Finally, the city’s Jewish quarter is a good place to finish your trip, wandering through the small winding streets and taking a good look at the unusual-looking statue of Franz Kafka.

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5 EUROPEAN CITY BREAKS

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COLOGNE

Located on the Rhine River, Cologne is Germany’s fourth most populous city and is a great option for travellers looking for an alternative to Berlin. The city, known as Köln to German-speakers, benefits from a vast, cheaply priced public transportation network made up of a subway, suburban railway system, trams and buses – but exploring by bicycle is an even more cost-efficient way to get around.

Cologne Rhine bank, Cologne Cathedral

Visiting the magnificent Cologne Cathedral should be top of your list. Completed in 1880, this UNESCO World Heritage Site can be seen from almost everywhere in the city centre and the cathedral’s two towers dominate the city skyline.

If recent German history piques your interest, the Cold War capital of Bonn lies just down the Rhine for an easy day trip. Going back even further in time, Cologne’s Roman-Germanic Museum features a variety of archaeological finds and ancient relics of everyday life in Roman Cologne.

To wind down, trying the local beer “Kölsch” at a traditional pub is a must, as well as a trip to the riverside Rheinpark for a stroll. And if you’re visiting Cologne in the winter, the city’s notorious Weihnachtsmarktes (Christmas markets) are unmissable for shopping, eating and drinking!

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BARCELONA

Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and known for its unforgettable architecture and art. There’s something for everyone in Barcelona, from food, to culture, to beaches, so it’s a great one to try if everyone in the group has different priorities.

Perhaps the most well known building in Barcelona is Antoni Gaudí’s minor basilica, Sagrada Família. Combining architectural styles such as Art Nouveau and Catalan Modernism, the building itself remains unfinished but its still a sight to behold – and when it is finally completed (predicted to be in the year 2026), it will be the world’s tallest church building. If you haven’t had enough of Gaudí, head to one of his other buildings – perhaps the modernist Casa Batlló, Casa Vicens or Casa Milà.

Food in Barcelona is supreme! Try some pinchos - small bar snacks on a slice of crusty bread held together by a long cocktail stick - or go on a dedicated food tour. Head to Barcelona’s famous food market, La Boqueria, to taste local produce.

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Barcelona, photo: Lucas Neves

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5 EUROPEAN CITY BREAKS

Toulouse - La basilique Saint-Sernin, photo: Franck Charel, Atout France

photo: Andrej Tarfila

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TOULOUSE

Toulouse is a hidden gem amongst French cities, perfect for a short summer break filled with culture. It’s easily accessible by both plane and Eurostar, making it an appealing option if you’re looking for culture without breaking the bank. Much of Toulouse’s unique charm comes from the use of distinctive pink bricks in the construction of its building facades; locals refer to their hometown as “La Ville Rose” – the rose city.

The city square, Capitole de Toulouse, should feature on every visitor’s tosee list – it’s home to Le Capitole, a majestic building housing the town hall, an opera house and multiple state rooms. Toulouse is also home to plenty of first class museums. One of the more unique institutions is les Abattoirs, a contemporary and modern art museum housed in the unique setting of a former slaughterhouse and home to over 4000 works of art. Alternately, Musée des Augustins provides a more traditional art gallery experience, with works from a variety of styles and periods including Renaissance and Gothic amongst others. If you’re more interested in science and natural history than art, then you’ll be right at home at the Muséum de Toulouse, France’s largest natural history museum outside of Paris. If that still isn’t enough for you, the UNECO-listed Basilica of Saint-Sernin is definitely worth a visit. Only a five minute walk from the city square, this grand church is home to stunning art and great architecture – and guided tours are easily available.

To really make the most of the city’s location, seek out a hotel with a swimming pool in order to combine the best parts of a city break with a more relaxing poolside holiday.

La place du Capitole à Toulouse , photo: Franck Charel, Atout France

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LJUBLJANA

Ljubljana is the destination for travellers looking for a relaxing, chilled city break – but with an edgy twist. In 2016 it was named the European Green Capital and it’s easy to see why. The city is committed to being environmentally friendly: the city centre is basically car free, a cycle network has emerged in recent years and public transport is easy and has low emissions.

In the old town area of central Ljubljana, you’ll find nostalgic cobbled streets, gorgeous regal buildings and beautiful bridges. Around ten percent of Ljubljana’s buildings were destroyed in the 1895 earthquake, so much of what you see will have been rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style.

For the hipsters amongst us, you’ll not want to miss the Metelkova Mesto area, one of Europe’s largest urban squats on the site of an old military base. Nowadays the area has done a complete U-turn, and is home to art galleries and studios as well as hosting hundreds of alternative subculture events.

Finally, if you want more from your trip to Slovenia, only 55km away from Ljubljana is a legendary photo spot in the form of the picturesque Lake Bled – snap a pic or, if you’re about more than just doing it for the gram, see it as a chance to hire a boat and row across the lake!

photo: Andrej Tarfila

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SAN FRANCISCO, USA

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SAN FRANCISCO, USA

Six Reasons to Visit ‘The City by The Bay’ in 2020 In a city as vibrant, diverse and creative as San Francisco, there’s always a good reason to visit. With major milestones such as 50 years of San Francisco Pride and the 30th anniversary of the world-famous sea lions’ arrival to Pier 39, there’s an abundance of special events and celebrations coming to the City by the Bay this year…

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30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAN FRANCISCO’S SEA LIONS

January 2020 marked 30 years since the city’s much loved, worldfamous sea lions made PIER 39’s K-Dock their home after the Loma Prieta earthquake, where they have been permanent residents ever since. PIER 39 and Aquarium of the Bay have launched the ‘Sea Lions in San Francisco’ initiative, which includes 30 local artists’ six-foot-tall sea lion statues painted in their own unique styles, each focusing on an environmental message.

Sea Lion Encounter Walking Tours and special discounts at the PIER are also available in celebration of the sea lions. tickets.sftravel.com/attraction/single/797/ 842?from=/article/whats-comingsan-francisco-2020

2 Fisherman's Warf sea lions, photo: San Francisco Travel Association

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE

The whole city of San Francisco explodes into a rainbow burst of music, dancing and excitement for Pride each year. Hundreds of thousands of people line the streets and descend on the annual downtown parade and festival, making it the largest LGBTQ celebration in the country.

San Francisco has cancelled its famed Pride parade this summer, which would have marked the event’s 50th anniversary, due to the coronavirus. So this year’s ‘Generations of Hope’ themed celebrations will now take place virtually. You can access the official website on 27th-28th June to enjoy the LGBTQ celebrations from your home. www.sfpride.org

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SAN FRANCISCO, USA

Pride, photo: San Francisco Travel Association

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A NEW CITY CENTRE ROOFTOP PARK

The roof of the Salesforce Transit Center has turned into a 5.4 acre public park with 60 species of trees, a 1,000-foot-long fountain, picnic meadow and children’s playground. Beneath this incredible new green space is a major transit hub for the city, connecting San Francisco to destinations in the East Bay, north to wine country, and down the peninsula to Silicon Valley and Monterey. Visitors will soon be able to sip and dine at Salesforce Park and Salesforce Transit Center. In addition to the upscale, Japaneseinspired rooftop restaurant from the chef behind Berkeley’s Iyasare, there will be a variety of eateries slated to open in 2020. From Dim Bao’s dim-sum and Acquolina’s homemade pasta to sweet treats from San Francisco-based luxury confectioner, Feve Chocolates, this transportation hub will become more than just a pit stop in your daily commute. salesforcetransitcenter.com

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2020 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP COMES TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR THE FIRST TIME

Watch in person as the world’s strongest international players in men’s major championship golf vie for the 2020 PGA Championship title at Harding Park, 3rd to the 9th of August. The 2020 PGA Championship will be the first PGA Championship to be staged in San Francisco, and marks the first of three major PGA championships coming to San Francisco over the next decade. Golf continues with the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, taking place at Lake Merced Golf Club, 27th - May 3rd April, 2020. The LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship will be hosting four #InviteHER events in the Bay Area to invite women to connect through the game of golf. https://www.sftravel.com/article/2020-pga-championship-bringsnew-era-major-championship-golf-san-francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

Golden Gate Park, photo: San Francisco Travel Association

For further information on San Francisco visit www.sftravel.com

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NEW EXHIBITION PAVILION TO OPEN AT THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM

Following a $90 million investment, a new 13,000-square-foot exhibition Pavilion and Art Terrace is being added to the museum’s historic Civic Center home. Designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast, and characterised by a rusticated grey terra-cotta tile exterior and gem-shaped bay windows, the new space will allow the museum to increase the number of temporary exhibitions offered each year, and will be one of the nation’s premier venues dedicated to Asian art. asianart.org/regular/we-are-growing

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SAN FRANCISCO’S BAY AREA TAKES THE CITY’S MICHELIN STAR TOTAL TO 80

San Francisco’s Bay Area has earned a well-earned place in the Michelin rankings with eight of its restaurants earning three Michelin stars, more than any other region in the country. The Bay Area was recognised for its standout star rating following Michelin’s recent announcement on the release of its first statewide Michelin Guide for California, which will likely be released in June. San Francisco and the surrounding region has a total of 80 stars among the 58 venues listed in the 2019 Michelin Guide so there has never been a better time for foodies to indulge their taste buds in San Francisco, and for a mouth-watering list of the city’s restaurants to watch this year see: sftravel.com/article/13-san-francisco-restaurants-you-need-eat-2019 San Francisco Travel offers a Culinary Guide which is available to download at www.sftravel.com/article/download-san-francisco-culinary-guide

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F U RT H E R I N S P I R AT I O N

VIESTRA EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION FEATURE

WIN 7 NIGHTS IN OMAN Full board, all flights and transfers included from UK to Oman

This competition allows for travel to Oman on a full board basis between 01/ 10/20 and 31/03/21. Competition closes 10/08/20.

Full details at viestramagazine.com/oman

To enter this competition you must be over 18 years of age, a resident of the UK a basis between 01/ 10/20 and 31/03/21 and includes all flights and transfers fr Competition closes 10/08/20. Full terms and conditions at viestramagazine

F U RT H E R I N S P I R AT I O N

To win a 3 night stay for 2 people in a Royal Tent at Dunes By Al Nahda and a further 4 night stay at Sahab Resort and Spa in Oman text the word

OMAN to 60109 (texts cost £1.50 per text)

and have a valid UK passport. This competition allows for travel to Oman on a full board rom London Heathrow to Oman. Texts cost £1.50 per text. Helpline 020 3623 0567. e.com/oman. Vencor Ltd, Unit 22, 295 Chiswick High Road, London, UK W4 4HH.

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Take me to the top tremblant.ca

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Take me to the top

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DISCOVER CANADA IN ONE CITY Ottawa tells Canada’s stories, reflects its beauty, and embodies its spirit like no other city.

Come discover it this summer.

OTTAWATOURISM.CA

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Enhance your experience with Heathrow’s Fast Track security

To book visit heathrow.com/fast-track Important information: All passengers flying out of Heathrow Airport are subject to the same security procedures and regulations. Heathrow recommends that passengers ensure that they have allowed enough time for the usual security and x-ray screening. As a premium experience, customers who have purchased access to Fast Track Security will be given a priority service to ensure that waiting is kept to a minimum. However, we cannot guarantee a maxi-mum or minimum queue length or time. Access to Heathrow’s Fast Track Security is granted through a pre-booked time slot. Whilst Heathrow will endeavour to ensure that all passengers are able to access Fast Track, access may be denied for latecomers. Please remember that it is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure they arrive at the departure gate at the published boarding time as stated by the airline. Heathrow Airport is not responsible for any passengers who miss their flight because they did not allow enough time to go through the check-in and security process. Please note all passengers including infants and babies require both an airline ticket and a Fast Track ticket if they want to pass through Fast Track security.

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Superbly connected to Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 via a covered walkway, Hilton London Heathrow Airport offers contemporary accommodation and premium facilities. Whether staying for business or leisure, enjoy excellent links to the capital and convenient air connections to the world.

• 398 guest rooms and suites • Three restaurants and a bar on site • LivingWell Health Club, pool, steam room and sauna • Business Centre and 15 meeting rooms • 300-delegate capacity event suite • 30 minutes to Central London from Terminal 4 • Easy links to all Heathrow Terminals

HILTON LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT | Terminal 4 | Heathrow Airport | Hounslow Middlesex London | TW6 3AF United Kingdom | T: +44 (0) 20 8759 7755 | E: events.heathrow@hilton.com | heathrow.hilton.com

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www.berninaexpress.ch

Bernina Express From glaciers to palms

Experience one of the most spectacular ways to cross the Alps: The Albula and Bernina lines of the Rhaetian Railway. One of the highlights is the panoramic journey through the UNESCO World Heritage RhB. Information / Reservation / Sales Rhaetian Railway, Railservice, Tel +41 (0)81 288 65 65, railservice@rhb.ch, www.rhb.ch

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