Category: Travel

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From an Ultra-Premium Cohiba to a Robust Re-Blend: The Best in Cigars – Robb Report

The Big Idea: A Stronger SmokeThe cigars we’re smoking are becoming more buff. Just look at this year’s Best of the Best winners: Full- and medium-full-strength smokes dominate, with the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua the lone representative on the podium for the medium-strength category. Absent entirely are any cigars from the mild or even medium-mild segments. Meanwhile, a number of popular smokes, such as the J. C. Newman Diamond Crown Maximus and the CAO Vision, have debuted intense new versions that not only grabbed our attention but made our list for the year’s best cigars.That means so long candela cigars, with their ultra-mild yellow-green wrappers, and hello to the flavors of Jalapa and Estelí, two of Nicaragua’s most popular regions for producing the dark, muscular tobaccos used in many of today’s premium stogies. In fact, 6 of this year’s 10 Best of the Best winners come from Nicaragua and feature its characteristically rich, earthy tobaccos. And the trend holds outside of our curated selection: Over the past several years, for the first time Nicaragua has outpaced the Dominican Republic as the leading exporter of premium cigars to the US.The gravitation to stronger smokes is the result of a growing appreciation for the many flavor nuances to be found in fuller premium cigars, as with the current penchant for cask-strength whiskeys. We’re also firing up more stogies overall, with January 2021 exports to the US up by 55 percent compared to January 2020, according to the Cigar Association of America. This is unsurprising, perhaps, in the most homebound year in modern memory. With many of us now working from home, lighting up a mid-afternoon stogie is far more feasible than in an office environment. For smokers, at least, that’s one cloud with a silver lining.

Source: From an Ultra-Premium Cohiba to a Robust Re-Blend: The Best in Cigars – Robb Report

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Top 5 Must-See Historical Sites in Dublin – World History Encyclopedia

The city the Vikings first settled is still very much the center of Dublin City. Today’s castle would have been located in the southeast end of the fortified town, which stretched north to the river. During the Viking period, it is believed that a wooden fort was located where the castle now stands. The town stretched north to the River Liffey, where the area now known as Wood Quay is, and the famous Temple Bar area would have been marshland, not yet drained. At Wood Quay, two sculptures of Viking ships stand today to remember the Viking heritage of the city.AFTER THE VIKINGS WERE DEFEATED AT THE BATTLE OF CLONTARF IN 1014, THEY MOVED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER LIFFEY.For those interested in Viking history, it is recommended to visit The Steine or Long Stone. The stone is located north of Trinity College at the end of Pearse Street and Townsend Street and is a replica of a Viking long stone. The use of the original standing stone is not clear, but it is believed to have been raised by the Viking settlers sometime during the 10th or 11th centuries. It stood until the first half of the 18th century, while the memorial stone which can be visited was erected in 1986. Two faces adorn the stone: King Ivar the Boneless (d. 873), Viking ruler of the city during the 9th century, and the face of a nun from the monastery connected to St. Mary de Hogges.

Source: Top 5 Must-See Historical Sites in Dublin – World History Encyclopedia

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The 10 Best in Cigars of 2021 – Robb Report

The cigars we’re smoking are becoming more buff. Just look at this year’s Best of the Best winners: Full- and medium-full-strength smokes dominate, with the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua the lone representative on the podium for the medium-strength category. Absent entirely are any cigars from the mild or even medium-mild segments. Meanwhile, a number of popular smokes, such as the J. C. Newman Diamond Crown Maximus and the CAO Vision, have debuted intense new versions that not only grabbed our attention but made our list for the year’s best cigars.That means so long candela cigars, with their ultra-mild yellow-green wrappers, and hello to the flavors of Jalapa and Estelí, two of Nicaragua’s most popular regions for producing the dark, muscular tobaccos used in many of today’s premium stogies. In fact, 6 of this year’s 10 Best of the Best winners come from Nicaragua and feature its characteristically rich, earthy tobaccos. And the trend holds outside of our curated selection: Over the past several years, for the first time Nicaragua has outpaced the Dominican Republic as the leading exporter of premium cigars to the US.The gravitation to stronger smokes is the result of a growing appreciation for the many flavor nuances to be found in fuller premium cigars, as with the current penchant for cask-strength whiskeys. We’re also firing up more stogies overall, with January 2021 exports to the US up by 55 percent compared to January 2020, according to the Cigar Association of America. This is unsurprising, perhaps, in the most homebound year in modern memory. With many of us now working from home, lighting up a mid-afternoon stogie is far more feasible than in an office environment. For smokers, at least, that’s one cloud with a silver lining.

Source: The 10 Best in Cigars of 2021 – Robb Report

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67 Fascinating Facts About London I Boutique Adventurer

67 Fascinating Facts about LondonWhen a man is tired of London he is tired of life. So said Samuel Johnson in 1777 and as a Londoner, I firmly believe that these words still hold true today – although of course, I would like to change man to person. I think that my hometown is the most amazing and fascinating city in the world and I can’t imagine getting bored with London.To help convince you that I am correct here are 67 fascinating facts about London!67 Fascinating Facts About LondonTable of Contents [show]1. Time Starts in LondonSpecifically time starts in the London borough of Greenwich. Greenwich is home to the Royal Observatory. The Royal Observatory is the point from which GMT or Greenwich Mean Time is calculated. Or you may know this figure as UTC or Coordinated Universal Time. It is also the point of 0 degrees longitude – the Prime Meridian.

Source: 67 Fascinating Facts About London I Boutique Adventurer

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Australia opposes Great Barrier Reef ′in danger′ listing | News | DW | 22.06.2021

The Australian government said on Tuesday that it would oppose a plan by UNESCO to downgrade the status of the Great Barrier Reef following years of damage caused by climate change.The UN cultural body wants to lower the World Heritage status of the natural site after warming waters led to the loss of half of its corals since 1995.Australian Environmental Minister Sussan Ley protested the move stressing that the country had spent billions of dollars on trying to protect the reef.”I agree that global climate change is the single biggest threat to the world’s reefs but it is wrong, in our view, to single out the best-managed reef in the world for an ‘in danger’ listing,” she said in a statement.

Source: Australia opposes Great Barrier Reef ′in danger′ listing | News | DW | 22.06.2021

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Sweet spots in Switzerland to visit, explore, experience

When you hear “Switzerland,” you may think of chocolate, cheese, watches, army knives and the Alps. Switzerland is home to more than 8 million people and is a fantastic vacation destination to many more. Three years ago, I got to visit my older sister, who is currently studying in Zurich. She showed me some of the major attractions back then, and now, after living in Switzerland for a few years, my sister has found more favorites and sweet spots in Switzerland. I asked her a few questions on her favorite places and recommendations around Switzerland so that when you get a chance to visit, you have an idea of what to do.What is special about Switzerland?People often know Switzerland for its nature, especially the Alps mountains, and winter sports. There’s a lot to enjoy in the country, and being in the middle of Europe, you can easily access nearby countries. Switzerland is also known for having one of the highest standards of living. The people here value work-life balance, ensuring time for family, leisure and outdoor activities outside of work. Despite having a small population of 8.5 million, Switzerland has a high GDP, and while the cost of living is high, wages are also high. People in Switzerland speak four main languages: German (with a Swiss dialect), French, Italian and Romansh. However, you will be able to get by with English in most cities (although it may be harder in French-speaking areas).

Source: Sweet spots in Switzerland to visit, explore, experience

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Endless Summer Guide

Smart world interactive cities including Asia, Canada, Europe and the United States.

Interactive City Guide – your endless summer
R.G. Richardson updated for 2021; has the largest interactive series of eBooks with over 230 city guides worldwide in 10 languages.
Our interactive city guides do the searching, no more typing just pick an icon and click and they never go out of date.
10,900 preset searches all you have to do is pick and click.
Search for restaurants, hotels, hostels, pubs, clubs, fast food, take-out, historical sites and facts all just by clicking on the icon.
Search with Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yandex, Baidu, Duckduckgo, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest.
Connect to the internet or WiFi at the coffee shop and search for everything you want to know about the city.
Preset search settings get you the results you need and now avoid typing errors and get the results you are looking for.
All guides search in 10 languages including Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Indian, Portuguese and Japanese!
Never out of date and very fast with 5G! Google App (IOS and Android) for phone, pad, pc and Kindle on Amazon.
Published in Canada by:
eComTechnology/RGRichardson

Assign Centre, ISBN Division
Library and Archives Canada
Author R.G. Richardson
Victoria, BC. V8R 5G9
Updated 6/2021

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7 Of Italy’s Most Affordable And Beautiful Beach Resorts

With the EU preparing to let qualified visitors from outside the bloc visit for leisure travel, and Italy announcing a “green pass” to be available from mid-May, a seaside holiday in the country will soon be possible for many for the first time since 2019. While a number of resort destinations are already seeing robust bookings, consider that with a long and varied coastline, Italy can offer, in addition to its famed beach havens, many beautiful and affordable spots that are lesser known among international travelers.Here, Italy experts Philip Curnow, founder of Delicious Italy, a Rome-based site specializing in the country’s travel and food; Francesca Montillo, a culinary instructor, author and tour planner who heads up Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures; and Cassandra Santoro, owner of Travel Italian Style, a company specializing in custom Italian itineraries, discuss some of their preferred summer resorts for maximizing travel dollars and euros.While these destinations won’t attract the number of visitors typically found pre-pandemic on the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre, “they will be busy during peak summer months,” says Montillo. “Going to the beach in Italy is a way of life, and what just about every Italian looks forward to all year long.” But she points out that as many of these resorts will be frequented by Italians “there’s still a sense of authenticity to the experience.”

Source: 7 Of Italy’s Most Affordable And Beautiful Beach Resorts

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Horgan Favours Lumber Access as B.C. Old-Growth Forests Fall – The Energy Mix

As the British Columbia government moves to overhaul the province’s forestry sector, the Sierra Club of BC is decrying the decision to prioritize access to wood fibre over old-growth forest protections.In a June 1 announcement, Premier John Horgan’s government “released a series of goals, plans, and an initial year-long timeline as it works to ‘modernize’ its regulation of the forest sector,” reports The Canadian Press.Like this story? Subscribe to The Energy Mix and never miss an edition of our free e-digest.SUBSCRIBEA key element of the new plan is to ensure greater access to forest tenures by Indigenous peoples and smaller operators, who have historically been shut out of an application process that favours big companies like Canadian Forest Products, West Fraser Timber, International Forest Products, Tolko Industries, and Western Forest Products. Together, these five heavyweights own roughly 50% of the province’s active forest tenures.Proposed changes include improving “access to wood fibre for value-added domestic manufacturers” and conducting an audit of the fee-in-lieu charged to companies for the export of unprocessed logs.“We very much want the major players to continue to participate,” Horgan told media. “But they have to understand that the old chasing volume is no longer viable in a time of climate change.”Over the next two years, according to a paper released by the province, the new plan is to address the recommendations of an independent review of B.C.’s old-growth forest management issued last year, “including the deferral of logging in ecosystems at risk of irreversible loss.” CP notes that, last September, the province announced it would temporarily defer harvesting in 1,960 square kilometres of old-growth forests in nine different areas, while further work was under way to protect up to 1,500 exceptionally large trees.”CBC News says Horgan also addressed questions over why his government has not moved to prevent old-growth logging in the Fairy Creek watershed, currently a site of significant protest. “If we were to arbitrarily put deferrals in place there, that would be a return to the colonialism that we have so graphically been brought back to this week by the discovery in Kamloops,” he said.But the Sierra Club issued a rebuke of Horgan’s priorities, describing its claims of old-growth protection as “outrageous”.“Preparing to redistribute forest tenure without first taking action to ensure that the most endangered old-growth forests have at least interim protection will only make it harder to save any of these forests later,” wrote senior forest and climate campaigner Jens Wieting. “People in B.C. who care about the web of life should be deeply worried about this government’s ongoing denial of the severity of the old-growth and biodiversity crisis.”As a solution, the Sierra Club recommended “immediate short-term funding for First Nations and forestry workers seeking an alternative to logging the last old-growth.” In a separate report last month, the group detailed research by forester Dave Daust and forest ecologists Rachel Holt and Karen Price that mapped the 1.3 million hectares of old-growth forest (some 2.6% of B.C.’s total forest area) most in need of immediate deferrals.“The B.C.-based experts used the criteria from the independent old-growth panel recommendations that the provincial government promised to implement last fall but has so far failed to enact,” the Club wrote. “We don’t have time to wait for the province any longer,” said Kwakwaka’wakw Chief Rande Cook. Adding that provincial inaction has “forced the hand of Indigenous leadership” as old-growth forests fall “by the day.” While Horgan positions himself as a champion of Indigenous peoples and calls any assignment of deferrals as “arbitrary,” Sierra Club’s Wieting says the measures are needed “to ensure sufficient time for a sincere process with Indigenous governments to identify what support is needed for communities and Nations that seek to protect the last old-growth forests instead of logging it for short-term relief.”Mark Worthing, Sierra Club BC’s coastal projects lead, said the deferrals “are what make space for a safe conversation to cultivate public trust and free, prior, and informed consent for the future of old-growth forests and biodiversity.” Without such Indigenous consent and science-based deferrals in place, he said, “all we’re left with is an outcome designed to please greedy logging corporations above all else.”

Source: Horgan Favours Lumber Access as B.C. Old-Growth Forests Fall – The Energy Mix

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Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe: How to Make a Rum and Maraschino Cocktail – Robb Report

Ernest Hemingway, born in the last year of the 19th century, seemed to embody the kind of gruff masculinity that John Wayne would’ve looked up to. In pictures, he looks like he wore sweaters made of brillo pads. He participated in three wars. He had strong opinions about all kinds of things—guns, fine art, boxing, European cities—and was always up at dawn, claiming to have seen every sunrise since he’d been born. He was never happier than when hunting or fishing, really anything murderous. He survived two plane crashes in two consecutive days and after the second was believed dead, until he emerged from the jungle holding a bunch of bananas and a bottle of gin, Time magazine would report later, “battered but unbowed.”He was also, as noted, a famous and exuberant drunk, the kind of guy who orders a cocktail at the airport he arrives at, who drinks Champagne with breakfast and goes on epic, several day benders, and whose habits inspired an entire book just about his relationship to alcohol. Everything was outsized, everything turned fantastic: Hemingway was the kind of guy who could tell a story about how when he was in Montana he lived with a bear, got drunk with him, slept side by side and were indeed close friends, and you suspect he’s probably telling the truth.His fame, combined with his nomadic nature and his gargantuan appetite for drink, has led to cottage industries in a half dozen cities, Hemingway Drinking Tours, with some bar or another claiming to be the author’s favorite haunt in Venice or Paris or Key West or, in the case of the Hemingway Daiquiri, Havana, to which the author decamped in 1939. Hemingway came to Cuba to leave his second wife and write what would ultimately become For Whom the Bell Tolls, and for his first few months, he set up at a hotel just up the street from a little bar called La Florida (affectionately referred to as “La Floridita”), which was already famous for making the best Daiquiris in Cuba.In 1934, the bar had published Bar La Florida Cocktail Book, featuring four different house versions of the Daiquiri. In an updated printing in 1939, they’d add a Daiquiri No. 5, as well as an entry a few pages later, the “E. Henmiway Special,” which was identical to their Daiquiri No. 3 except it had no sugar syrup and was blended, as opposed to shaken and strained.

Source: Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe: How to Make a Rum and Maraschino Cocktail – Robb Report