Near and Far Travel Magazine

ISSUE 08

JUNE 2021

N E A R & FA R

BALEARIC BLISS IN MALLORCA

THE MAGIC OF HAVANA CHILEAN WINE COUNTRY CYCLING AROUND TAIWAN SOUTH AFRICA’S GARDEN ROUTE

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FEATURES Balearic Bliss 8 Off the Beaten Path in Mallorca

The Magic of Havana 16 A Practical Guide to Exploring the Cuban Capital

Cheers to Chile 28 Wine Tasting in Chile

Cycling Taiwan 36 How to Tour Taiwan by Bike

Photo credits clockwise from top left: Daniel Sessler, Orlova Maria, Kyle Thacker, Edward Howell

CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE

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Editor’s Letter 5 Travel Tips 6 Instagram as Travel Guide

Travel Eats 42 A Vietnamese Feast

Happy Hour 50 The Perfect Negroni

Weekend Away 52 48 Hours in Vancouver

Road Trippin’ 58 South Africa’s Garden Route

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Design Inspiration 66 Morroccan Interiors

Where to Next

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Nicaragua

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Photo: Element5 Digital

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EDITOR’S LETTER According to research, anticipating a trip can make you happier than actually taking it. While we couldn’t agree more that the planning process is more than half the fun for us travel nerds, we hope to get joy before, during and after the trip. From the initial rush of clicking the purchase button for that flight, to using #TBT as an excuse to post yet another vacay pic, travel brings joy into our everyday lives.

When we return home from a trip, we might bring back a new recipe, a greater understanding of the world, a cherished friendship or beautiful artwork for our home. At Near and Far we believe that travel is so much more than just that week-long vacation; it’s a way of life.

In this issue we focus on special features on Mallorca, Havana, Tawain, and Chile. We're also introducing two new columns to help bring some international flavors into your life even while you're at home: Happy Hour and Travel Eats, where we provide a drink and a recipe that are inspired by our travels.

As always, we invite you, the reader, to join the conversation online on our social media channels and in person at our upcoming guest speaker series and meetups coming to cities around the U.S. Visit our website for information and tickets.

Happy travels,

Kat Myer Kat Myer Editor in Chief

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TRAVEL TIPS USING INSTAGRAM TO PLAN TRIPS Unlike our parents’ generation, Millenials don’t lug around guidebooks (or even use them on our Kindles), but instead seek out travel ideas from a variety of online sources. In addition to blogs and travel websites, we increasingly turn to Instagram to craft the perfect itinerary. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your trip using Instagram to plan.

Search

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As soon as I book a flight, I hop on to Instagram for a little inspiration. I search the geotag or hashtag associated with a place and start scrolling. As common hashtags tend to be oversaturated, the more specific the better. The same goes for location tags, so try searching for a specific neighborhood in your destination city. This strategy has led me to find incredible recommendations for restaurants, bars, shops, cool street art, hikes, and much more.

Once you start finding intriguing posts, save away! Create specific folders on Instagram for upcoming trips or dream destinations. Next, if you feel like going the extra mile, add your finds to a Google map to make it easy to navigate your destination.

Follow In addition to travel bloggers, seek out smaller accounts run by local food bloggers or photographers, or check out the local tourism board’s account for ideas and inspiration.

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(Don’t) Do it for the 'Gram While I love finding travel inspiration on Insta, I don’t let it define my entire trip.

Be sure to seek out recommendations in other places or chat with locals. Take time to put away your phone and resist the urge to photograph everything you come across on your travels.

Instagram photos, from top left: @wanderingsoul, @sarahmartin @viajera, @misslizzyyy, @mexicolindo, @thaotravels, @parislove, @surfingsteven, @jenny_c

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BALEARIC BLISS Off the Beaten Path in Mallorca Article by Mari Oriol

Mallorca, Photo: Stefan Kunze

Casa Fernando, Photo: Reise Uhu

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June 2021 Cala S'Almunia Photo: Reise Uhu

T You'll be rewarded with secluded beaches, stunning hiking trails, charming villages, and world-class food and wine.

hink of Mallorca, and you might picture crowded beaches, generic all-inclusive resorts, and nightclubs packed full of rowdy tourists. However, there’s another side to this sun-kissed Mediterranean isle. Mallorca is part of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands, which consists of four islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.

While it is easy to see why the island has become such a popular tourist destination, the island's size (at 75 kilometers from north to south and 100 kilometers from east to west), means that there is ample space to get away from the crowds. You will have to go a little further to get off the beaten path, but once you do, you’ll be rewarded with secluded beaches, stunning hiking trails, charming villages, and world-class food and wine.

Just a 30 minute flight from Barcelona, Palma is most likely where you'll start your visit. In recent years, the capital city has developed into one of Spain's most interesting smaller-sized cities. In the heart of the old city, you'll find narrow cobblestone streets that lead to charming plazas full of cafes and restaurants where locals and tourists alike gather for coffee or drinks. The city's culinary scene has taken off in recent years, and there is no shortage of quality restaurants.

Eateries throughout the island tend to focus on fresh seafood and traditional Mallorcan fare, while in Palma you can find an array of cuisines, from local to international. The city is also home to many galleries and a burgeoning arts scene.

Head inland and you'll see a different (less touristy) side of Mallorca. Small, traditional villages are scattered throughout the countryside, where sheep and oak groves abound. The interior of the island is it's agricultural center where you'll find farms, wineries and farmers' markets. Along the west coast of the island are the imposing Sierra De Tramuntana mountains, which are blanketed in pine trees. The white cliffs form a dramatic contrast where they meet the sparkling deep blue of the Mediterranean. Along the coastline, you'll find countless beaches, from smaller, secluded hamlets to larger, sandy beaches.

Many are accessible by car, but a willingness to hike a little will help you reach some true hidden gems. Read on for our tips on getting to know Mallorca's quieter side.

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EAT BAR FLEXAS A lively, authentic bar in Palma's Old Town with unique decor and excellent tapas. Don't miss the marinated salmon or the anchovies. barflexas.com

CANELA Canela, which means cinnamon in Spanish, gets its name from its location in a former spice shop. The decor and ambiance is warm and inviting, and the food is creative and delicious. The tapas have an Asian influence and some of the standout dishes include the dumplings and ceviche. canelarestaurant.com

CASA FERNANDO Casa Fernando is located on the outskirts of Palma de Mallorca, just steps away from the beach at Ciudad Jardín. They specialize in seafood, which is always freshly caught and delicious. casafernando.com.

Casa Fernando, Photo: Reise Uhu

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Shrimp at Ca Na Toneta: Alejandra Cifre Gonzalez

Tapas at Bar Flexas Photo: Alejandra Cifre Gonzalez

ES GUIX This restaurant near Pollença is the definition of off the beaten track. Located in an old stone hunting lodge and surrounded by rocky outcrops and oak groves, the mountain restaurant is home to a beautiful terrace. Sit outside in the shade and enjoy the best suckling pig on the island. esguix.com

CA NA TONETA The menu is contstantly changing at this incredible restaurant, as they focus on seasonal produce and Mallorcan cooking techniques. No matter what is on the menu, it is always a memorable meal. canatoneta.com

CASA MANOLO This quaint establishment is an old-school Mallorcan institution that has been owned by the same family for over 70 years. It is famous for its fresh seafood dishes, including specialities like lobster stew, tuna tartare, and fish baked in salt. casamanolo.com

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Vinyes Mortitx Photo: Vinyes Mortitx

DRINK WINE Like in the rest of Spain, wine is an important part of life in Mallorca. Winemaking on the isle has a long history, dating back to when it was a part of the Roman Empire. Despite its long legacy of wine production, Mallorcan wine is rarely exported, meaning that there are some hidden gems that you shouldn't miss on your visit.

The island is home to two wine-growing regions that have received Denominacion De Origen (DO) status, Binissalem and Pla I Llevant. Binnissalem is a higher elevation area that is home to excellent wineries such as Bodega Finca Biniagual and Bodega Son Campaner. Every September, the village throws a two-week long festival to celebrate harvest season. The other DO, Pla I Llevant, is a lower lying

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region that boasts 13 wineries, including Bodegas Vi Rei and Oliver Moragues. Outside of these two regions, there are plenty of other vineyards. Vinyes Mortitx, pictured above, is another must-visit winery located 1 km from the sea, at the base of the Sierra de Tramuntina mountains.

While well-known grapes such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon thrive here, be sure to seek out less commonly known varietals that are native to the island.

One such grape is Manto Negro, an easy drinking, aromatic red. Other native reds include Callet and Fogoneu, while Moll and Prensal Blanc are the most widely grown white grapes. Wineries are open to the public for tours and wine tasting. mallorcawine.com.

VERMOUTH Vermouth, or Vermut in Spanish, is popular throughout Spain.

The fortified wine flavored with herbs and botanicals is an essential part of Spanish cocktail hour. It is traditionally served on the rocks or with a splash of soda water and garnished with olives or a twist of orange. Traditionally, vermouth drinking was reserved for Sunday afternoons, but these days it can be consumed any day, often as an aperitif or with tapas. For the full experience, try a flight of different vermouths. mallorcadistillery.com

GIN Thanks to the influx of British tourists, gin has become popular on the island, and there are several distilleries located around Mallorca. Try Gin Palma, a dry gin infused with local wildflowers and citrus from the rural orchards of the island.

A popular way to drink gin is mixed with lemonade, which creates a refreshing summer cocktail called a Pomada.

Vermouth, Photo: Dennis Schmidt

mallorcadistillery.com

Gin, Photo: Mallorca Distillery

Wine, Photo: Matildhe Langevin

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BEACHES CALA TUENT This secluded cove is located at the foot of the island's biggest peak. The drive on a windy mountain road keeps most tourists away from this beach.

CALA DEIA This beach is home to an amazing beachfront seafood restaurant and has gorgeous deep blue waters perfect for swimming.

CALA MURTA This beach near Formenter has water so clear it often appears that boats are floating. You might share the beach with wild goats.

CALA BELTRAN Rugged cliffs surround this narrow stretch of beach. You can hike in or reach this cove by boat.

ES COLL BAIX A secluded, rocky beach with gorgeous turqouise water.

Accessible by hiking in for about 3 km.

Cala Tuent, Photo: Joan Mesquida

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ACTIVITIES TORENT DE PAREIS This gorge is an incredible hiking spot. The challenging 5 hour hike ends at a sandy cove where you can cool off with a refreshing dip.

LA RESERVA This nature reserve is nestled in the picturesque Sierra de Tramuntina mountains. There you'll find dozens of hiking trails hat wind through forests with stunning vistas of the island.

CAP DE FORMENTOR Cap de Formentor is located on the northernmost point of the island. It is home to a lighthouse and dramatic views of the cliffs overlooking the sea.

CAVE TOUR The Drach caves are part of one of the world's largest underground lakes. It has become a tourist attraction, with boat tours available. Classical music concerts are held in the caves, so visitors may enjoy the live music and scenery from their boats.

HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE Take a hot air balloon for stunning views of Mallorca's verdant hills and coastline. Departs every morning from Deia for sunrise rides.

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La Reserva, Photo: Thomas Vitali

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FLORA WINE CLUB

a new way to drink wine www.florawineclub.com