Do wine bottle closures matter to you? Do you think that screw-capped bottles contain cheaper or lower quality wines? Are you a die-hard cork devotee?
I think I have a definitive answer to the cork vs. high end screw cap closure question.
At an André Lurton Wines tasting, we had two Sauvignon Blanc bottles from the same Château, same vintage, bottled at the same time and having the same amount of cellar time in the same cellar. They differed only in the fact that one was using a high-end screw cap closure (Stelvin™) and the other a cork closure.
Stelvin-closed wine bottles. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
At its simplest, the closure on a wine bottle must keep the liquid in the bottle inside and must keep oxygen out. But there are many different closure advantages to consider depending on how you like the wines you drink.
Tradition, cost, style of winemaking, and consumer acceptability all influence the closure selected by a wine producer.
White wine. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
The biggest problem that cork has to overcome is its susceptibility to TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole), a cork contaminant that gives a musty odor and taste to the wine, making it smell and taste like soggy, wet cardboard!
In the Lurton tasting, the differences were rather subtle, but very evident. The Stelvin-closed wine felt young, fresh, fruity, and quite aromatic.
Gravlax platter. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
It was a wine that begged to be consumed, accompanying gravlax salmon or perhaps a trout meuniere, a nice runny French cheese, or even some melon with prosciutto wrapped around it. By preventing micro-oxidation to occur while the wine was cellared, the metal closure kept the fruity aromas inside the bottle.
Grilled scallops with caviar and saffron cream. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
On the other hand, the cork-closed wine was a little less aromatic but much more complex. This wine called for a skilled cook that could match the wine’s complexity to much more sophisticated fare. Perhaps grilled scallops topped with caviar, a shrimp fried in garlic oil main course, or even a tree-ripened peach over a slab of sharp Irish cheddar.
Smoked trout and crab on dark bread. Photo by Manos Angelakis.
Both wines were very good. The Stelvin closure had kept one bottle feeling much younger than the cork-closed one that had allowed micro-oxidation to occur, allowing the wine to become much more complex than its Stelvin-closed sibling.
So it all boils down to your taste. If you like young, fresh, aromatic wines, a Stelvin-closed bottle would be fine for you. On the other hand, if you like complex, sophisticated wines, the cork closure would be better for you. The same goes for a number of red wine bottles from other producers that we have tried.
Both types of closure can have their place in the scheme of things. It should be up to you to select which bottle to purchase with what type of closure. À santé!
The day I had to leave Rapa Nui, I teared up. I so wanted more time there. While the island is part of the country of Chile, it’s actually in Polynesia and is similar to Hawaii in that it’s tropical, very green, and filled with volcanos. Read also about the resort where I stayed – Nayara Hangaroa.
Rapa Nui is one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, is in the Pacific Ocean, and is about five hours by air from Santiago, Chile. Of course, what distinguishes it from any other on the planet is its unique statues called Moai. Much about the history of the statues and the ancient people is unknown and mysterious.
Signs around the Moai statues ask you not to touch them. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
There are about 900 Moai statues total located mostly around the coast of the island, and some are as tall as 33 feet. The belief is that each statue represents an important person from the past whose skeletons are buried underneath. The faces are called “Aringa Ora,” which means the “living faces of loved and revered ancestors.”
No one knows exactly how the Moai were made, and the statues are quite different from one location to another. Only some have pointy noses, for example, and some wear what appear to be hats made of a redder stone, although it’s believed that what looks like hats may actually represent long hair wrapped on the top of the head.
A coastal shot from Rapa Nui. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The Moai are all male, and the belief is that it would take five or six men about a year to finish carving a single statue. But then, it would need to be transported to its final location and lifted into a standing position. No one knows for sure how the people accomplished that without machinery.
The statues were made from the volcanic rocks that make up the island’s topography, but all of them were toppled over at some point during Rapa Nui’s history. At one time, the eyes of the statues were filled with white coral and a piece of black obsidian rock for the pupil. These were all destroyed, however. Only one has been reconstructed from pieces and is displayed in the island’s history museum.
A rainbow on Rapa Nui. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Some believe the statues were toppled during a civil war, although one of my native guides doesn’t buy this theory because the Rapa Nui language doesn’t even have a word for “war” or “vengeance.” He believes they were toppled by another group arriving by ship with the aim of attacking.
American anthropologist William Mulloy was responsible for raising the funds to lift some of the Moai back to standing, and the people of the island are very grateful to him for this. It’s what made tourism possible, which boosted the economy, as there is almost no industry there.
The island doesn’t have a great deal of light pollution, so it’s an excellent place for stargazing.
Experts aren’t sure when the original inhabitants first settled on the island, but the evidence suggests it was around the year 1200. While theirs was a thriving culture, they suffered from over-forestation, followed by the introduction of European diseases and kidnapping as slaves. In 1877, there were barely more than 100 native inhabitants left, but modern DNA has made it possible to confirm that the people are indeed Polynesian.
Rapa Nui became known as Easter Island because the first Europeans arrived on Easter Sunday in 1722. When the native people who had no word for war approached the visitors, they began to touch the sailors out of curiosity.
This was disconcerting to the Christian Europeans, so to try to make the people stop, they fired their rifles into the air. But since the native people had never heard a gunshot, they didn’t know to be afraid. It was then that the sailors were ordered to shoot into the crowd, which resulted in the murder of about 12 islanders. When the people saw their kinsmen killed, they ran.
Later, when the people saw that their loved ones were stolen for slavery, some of them were able to hide within caves on the island. These stories are a sad testament to the horrors of exploration and colonization.
A closeup of a Moai statue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
One of the most interesting ancient stories on the island has to do with the Orongo ceremonial village, which had a competition called the Tangata Manu. The men would compete to get the first Manutara bird (sooty tern) egg of spring. It was dangerous, as they had to climb down a cliff and swim in the strong currents among sharks to an islet where the birds nested. They would hide in caves there and wait for the birds to arrive.
The one who was lucky enough to retrieve the first egg from its nest had to then swim back to Rapa Nui without breaking the egg. The leader of his clan could then rule the island for a year until the following year’s competition.
When you visit Rapa Nui, there are many wonderful sites to see. The most famous Moai on the island are the 15 in a row near the ocean. These are the ones you usually see in photos. My favorite view of them, however, was from the Moai quarry (also one of my favorite spots), which is where they believe most, if not all, of the Moai were carved.
The Moai quarry. Photo by Melanie Votaw.The Moai quarry. Photo by Melanie Votaw.The Moai quarry. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Today, it’s like a Moai graveyard with some standing and many on their backs or sides. Some of the statues in this location were also left unfinished, although no one knows for sure why. The 15 Moai are in the distance from the quarry, which overlooks them, making for a particularly beautiful view.
The spectacular view of the most famous Moai – the 15 – from the quarry. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The visible part of the Moai statues end at the waist or top of the thighs, but there is one statue at the quarry with kneeling legs. The theory is that it was harder to transport a statue with legs, so perhaps they stopped carving them like that. Some of the Moai have nipples carved into their chests, and some also have tattoos carved on their backs or buttocks. Some statues also have hands with long fingers carved on their stomachs.
The tattoos carved on the buttocks of this Moai in a spiral are believed to represent the sun. Photo by Melanie Votaw.You can see the right nipple carved in the chest of this Moai statue. Photo by Melanie Votaw.The hands with long fingers are carved over the stomach of this Moai statute. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The other group of Moai that I loved the most was among many palm trees and sitting on a hill above a gorgeous beach. These had pointy noses, and many had the “hats” atop their heads.
The Moai statues with particularly pointy noses and “hats.” Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Besides the Moai, there are some remains of stone home structures that were often built in the shape of a boat. Some of the ancient people also lived in caves where they could hide from intruders and maintain a small farm just outside the cave. The main crops were bananas, sweet potatoes, and sugarcane.
We were taken to one of these caves, which had the remains of a tree trunk in its roof that has been carbon dated and found to be 300,000 years old. They believe it ended up in the cave roof after a volcanic eruption.
The beautiful volcanic crater on Rapa Nui. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
There is also a huge and stunning volcanic crater that you absolutely must visit.
Rapa Nui, of course, also has civilization with an overall population of about 8,000 people. There is a small town with restaurants and shops, and there are hotels, as well as opportunities to go boating, diving, and surfing.
A shop in town on Rapa Nui. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
You will see wild horses and stray dogs all over the island. These animals are well cared for by the current residents, but I took some dog biscuits with me to feed them, as they’re quite friendly. One of the women I met at my resort fell in love with one of the dogs and considered transporting it to her midwestern home. But then, she realized it would be taken to a life spent indoors in a cold climate, so she concluded it was better off living freely on the island.
A marina on Rapa Nui. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
One of my guides told a great story that made all of us laugh. He said that the first axes on the island were made of stone because that’s what they had available. When they were first introduced in modern times to axes made of metal with wooden handles, they wanted to come up with a word in their native language for this item.
Since the axes they were given were made in Ohio and carved with “Made in Ohio” on the handles, the mayor decided to name them “oh-hee-oh.” To this day, or so our guide claimed, an axe is called an “oh-hee-oh.”
Rapa Nui is indeed a paradise with a profound and mystical history. I can’t stop thinking about the place, so I may have to return to experience it again. If you have the opportunity to go, don’t miss your chance. There’s nowhere else on earth like it.
The 5-star resort property of Nayara Hangaroa on Easter Island, which I will call Rapa Nui for the rest of this article, is an exceptional experience that I can’t possibly recommend enough. Also read my article on visiting Rapa Nui in general.
A portion of the reception area at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
We were greeted at the airport by resort personnel on foot, but because of a small protest happening that day, they weren’t allowed to drive right up to get us. Instead, we all had to drag our bags a few minutes away to a parking lot. That wasn’t fun, but once we arrived at the resort about 10 minutes later, we were greeted with a welcome local fruit drink and a flower lei.
The real flower lei given to me upon arrival at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
At reception, someone sat with each of us to give us instructions about the property. Then, someone guided us to our rooms. There are two types of rooms. I opted for a “Kainga” room (Kainga means earth), which is the least expensive of the two types of rooms.
My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
But that least expensive room didn’t leave me feeling cheated in the least. It was air conditioned room and made of cypress logs, clay, and volcanic stone. It was very spacious (527 square feet) with a king-sized bed, couch, table, private outdoor terrace with a table and two chairs and ocean view, a large bathtub, stand-up shower, sink, minibar, and front hallway with a shelf and a large bureau with shelves, a safe, and plenty of room for hanging clothes.
My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.My private terrace at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
A bathrobe and flip flops were provided, and maid service was available twice a day. The first drinks in the minibar were complimentary, while I paid for the refrigerator to be replenished after that.
My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.My room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.The large bureau and entry shelf in my Kainga room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The shower was constructed of local clay tiles made by an artisan from Pichilemu on the Island and manufactured in local ovens, and it had the best showerhead I have ever experienced in my life. It was a strong flow of water, but extra fine. (I luxuriated under it a bit more than I’d like to admit.)
The shower in my room at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The Maunga (mountain) rooms are built on two levels and great for families, providing 796 square feet. These also have a private outdoor terrace along with 1-1/2 baths, a king bed plus two sofa beds, and the other amenities as my Kainga room.
One of the buildings at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The package I bought is called the “Dream Program.” It includes only breakfast, but other on-site meals and excursions leaving from the resort can be charged to the room. I found the cost of the excursions and the food to be quite reasonable. The “Discover Program” includes breakfast, as well as either lunch or dinner each day, and one free half-day excursion per night stay. The “Full Experience” includes all meals.
The pool at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The resort has an outdoor pool and a spa with reasonably priced treatments, is kid-friendly, and offers bicycle rentals. It’s also located just across a street from the coast and a short walk from the Island’s main town, which has a few restaurants and cute little shops. I bought a gift box of Moai statue-shaped and scented soaps.
A portion of the breakfast buffet at Nayara Hangaroa. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The food at Nayara was universally delicious. The breakfast buffet at Poerava restaurant was very extensive with eggs made to order, bacon, a variety of cold meats, cereals, juices, breads, and pastries. The variety was the most I’ve seen at a hotel outside of Asia, which seems to always have the best breakfast buffets in the world.
A rainbow one afternoon from the outdoor seating of Poerava restaurant. You can also see one of the many stray dogs on the Island that are cared for by the inhabitants. They seem quite healthy and happy. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Poerava also serves lunch with both indoor and outdoor seating that overlooks the ocean. Its location provided a wonderful view of the sunset and gifted us a full rainbow one late afternoon. I ate the roast beef salad there two days in a row because it was so good. Besides mixed greens and roast beef, it contained palm hearts, grilled onions, avocado, and mango slices with a honey mustard vinaigrette.
Food is also served at the Vaikoa Bar, which is located in a separate building next door to Poerava. Each night, they provided a free surprise cocktail like a Kir Royale or a Pisco Sour.
Basil ceviche amuse bouche. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The fine dining restaurant just beyond Poerava serves dinner in an elegant indoor setting, but it was fine to dress casually there. I was served a wonderful basil ceviche amuse bouche followed by a lovely salad with avocado, carrots, sweet potatoes, and grilled pineapple. I also loved the chicken curry. Of course, the restaurants serve a great deal of local fresh seafood.
Salad with grilled pineapple, carrots, sweet potatoes, and avocados at Nayara Hangaroa restaurant. Photo by Melanie Votaw.Chicken curry at Nayara Hangaroa’s restaurant. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
There are numerous excursions available leaving each day from the resort at 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Besides the various Moai statues on the island, you can visit a volcano crater site or small cave. You can do a trek in the more isolated parts of the island or a guided bicycle trip for three hours.
Other experiences include diving, surfing, a boat ride, cooking classes, and Moai carving classes. While some of the excursions are called “low difficulty,” they aren’t all on flat land. You might have to climb stairs or rocks a bit.
Our guides for the excursions were locals who were very knowledgeable about the Island’s locations and history. Two of them said they had learned much from their grandparents, who were native to Rapa Nui. Of course, there’s still much no one knows about the Island and its statues, which is one of the things that makes it so fascinating.
The view from Poerava restaurant. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
My only complaint about Nayara was that many of us wanted to take a sunrise excursion to particular Moai statues near the resort, but they told us repeatedly that this wasn’t available to us because of the clouds. In other words, they claimed there would be no sunrise. We wondered if they just didn’t have any available staff that early in the morning.
Then, at the airport before leaving the Island, I met a couple who had stayed at the other Rapa Nui 5-star resort called Explora Lodge. They said they went on a sunrise excursion during the time of my stay that proved to be a mystical experience. I feel a bit cheated that I didn’t have that opportunity.
There was a Polynesian dance show one night at the resort. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The downside of Explora, according to them, was that they felt pressured to leave $100US in tips for the staff on a daily basis, which they thought was excessive considering the price of staying there. At Nayara, we were never pressured to tip anyone, but of course, I did. I’m happy to tip, but no one likes to feel pressured into it.
Despite my minor complaint, my stay at Nayara Hangaroa was stellar, and I would love to experience it again. Next, I plan to visit their resort property in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Stay tuned!
May is the month when flowering trees are in bloom. The air is permeated with fragrance, and the sounds of coughing and sneezing can be heard throughout the land.
This Mother’s Day, we are more than ever before suffering from the effects of climate change and are aware of how it’s affecting us and the cherished women in our lives with colder, warmer, wetter, and dryer periods. In general, more unpleasant weather conditions that affect our aging derma.
So to honor the women we love this year (especially ourselves), we are focusing on anti-aging products that use all natural, non-toxic ingredients with scientifically proven healing properties to aid in reviving and restoring the skin to its youthful appearance.
After all, none of us are getting any younger, but in today’s world, there is no reason that we can’t look like we are! So to add to the de rigueur delivery of flowers and candy, here are a few products to consider:
N8iV three-product package. Photo courtesy of N8iV.
N8iV: First on my list of outstanding beauty products is a noteworthy line called N8iV. I met Native American Ruth-Ann Thorn, a member of the San Diego, California Luiseno tribe, at a cosmetic trade show. She blew me away with her story. Calling on the wisdom of her people – who for centuries have used acorn oil for treating the skin – Ruth-Ann created this line by engaging with her community in its development.
The ancient knowledge was provided by the tribe elders while the entire community helps in the collection of the black acorns that grow naturally on their native lands. The nuts are of the highest quality but are harvested only once a year, making them a rare but renewable component.
In addition to the acorn oil, which has a fatty acid composition and natural tocopherols, plant stem cells, essential fatty acids, and copper peptides are added to aid in cell turnover and to promote collagen and elastin production – the necessary ingredients of a youthful complexion.
What I love about this line is that its success encouraged the women of the tribe to expand their personal outreach with arts and crafts that have long been only available locally.
N8iV products. Photo courtesy of N8iV.
So far, there are three products in the line in attractively designed packaging. For perfect gift-giving, they come in a handsome boxed set, or you can purchase each one separately.
The Daybreak Moisturizing Cream is to lighten and brighten the complexion while reducing fine lines and uneven skin tones. The nightly regiment consists of the Starlight Regenerative Cream that eliminates fine lines and rejuvenates the skin, while the restorative Starlight Regenerative Serum combines all the essential elements and packs a noticeable punch.
These rich creamy moisturizers really make a difference that is visible to the naked eye even on first application.
And just a few words about their name and logo,N8iV: the star at the top refers to their creation story “Payomkawichum,” which means people of the west and refers to the star people who were sent down from the Milky Way to tend to our Mother Earth. The number 8 refers to their calendar developed over eons of living off the land as hunter-gatherers and counts eight seasons in the year.
Ghanya Value Bundle of products. Photo courtesy of Ghanya Cosmetics.
Ghanya Cosmetics: Another product line that seems almost impossible to deliver on its promise but blew me away is Ghanya Cosmetics. This is another home-grown line by an enterprising woman who set out to create a product to help her daughter overcome her problem skin.
After years of research and investigation using only premium ingredients, including plant cells, she achieved success in eliminating the disfiguring acne her teenage daughter suffered from.
While not initially formulated for the mature woman, after the early success with the healing properties of the products, the line has expanded to include Age Defying Booster,The Absolute Cream, and Miracle Works Elixir that work wonders on mature skin.
The line continues to expand with products that maintain radiant well-balanced skin. These products are free from impurities that cause acne in younger skin, and they help diminish the lines and discoloration in more mature skin.
Irene Forte Phytomelatonin Rejuvenating Serum. Photo courtesy of Irene Forte.
Irene Forte: At the aforementioned trade show, I was introduced to another absolutely stunning line. Irene Forte is a total Italian beauty brand that features a luxurious product line along with several stunning destination spas across Italy. While I have yet to experience one of the luxurious spas, I have had the pleasure of using the line of beauty cosmetics and can testify to the effectiveness of their products.
Through the scientific formulation of botanicals and plant extracts – many sourced from their own organic farm – they have managed to develop a group of skincare products that deliver what they promise.
While this is an effective line of products developed specifically for all skin types, they are on the pricey side, but for a special woman on her special day, it’s an investment in guaranteed noteworthy results.
Veriphy Skincare products. Photo courtesy of Veriphy.
Veriphy Skincare: For a more affordable skin care regiment, consider Veriphy Skincare, another cosmetic line created by women. A group of female university lab scientists serendipitously came across a way to create 100% plant-based glycogen – an essential element in skin health but one which is normally animal-sourced.
This discovery led to the development of a luxury, vegan skincare line, formulated by women active in science, technology, engineering, math, and business – or STEM+B. Veriphy Skincare is a perfect example of an experiment gone wrong that led this group of enterprising young women to create not only a breakthrough product line but a new way to think and feel about beauty.
To this end, they have developed a complete array of products that fit into a woman’s beauty regimen at whatever age and stage she is in. Different package groupings are available and make great gifts.
Columbia Skincare products. Photo courtesy of Columbia Skincare Company.
Columbia Skincare Company: And while we are on the subject of healthy, rejuvenating skin care products, Columbia Skincare Company might revolutionize the industry. It isn’t a cosmetic company, but a 145-year-old skincare company – perhaps the oldest in the country – dedicated to healing damaged skin.
Columbia has been in the forefront of scientific investigation for the rejuvenation of burned and damaged skin. During their research, they found that a combination of probiotics, plant stem cells, and amino acid peptides have the unique ability to enhance the skin’s natural capacity to renew itself.
Columbia has addressed skincare not as a cosmetic issue but essentially as a health issue and has released two products with this in mind. Columbia Skincare Company Probiotic Concentrate and Probiotic Complex, the resulting products, are currently available only directly through the manufacturer.
Neora’s Ultimate Eye Treatment Bundle. Photo courtesy of Neora.
NEORA: In the past few years, the hot fashion accessory has been eyebrows. At one time, it was lips – big and bright red – but the action has shifted up to the brow. There are many ways of improving artificially on what nature provided.
I have tried a few less dramatic options that work to provide fullness to sparse brows over time. The latest one I tried seems to work well and fast to fill in brows, and in my case, restore color to graying hairs: LASH LUSH by NEORA.
This product is meant to grow longer eye lashes as well as enhance brows. I have used it for only a few weeks and already see an improvement. Another of their products that is helpful to women of all ages is their cream, FIRM. It’s a body contour cream that, if used consistently, helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite and dimpled skin and firms and tones those areas that we tend to want to hide.
Made in the U.S. and distributed worldwide, NEORA offers only naturally based products.
Kamsah tajine. Photo courtesy of Kamsah.
Kamsah: And now for a non-cosmetic suggestion for the woman in your life who loves to cook and try new methods – a gift of a Tajine cooking pot by Kamsah.
Tajine cooking is a slow-cooking method used in North African cultures but is relatively unknown in the U.S. It’s an all-in-one method of combining proteins (meat, poultry, or fish) and vegetables in one pot with a lot of spices, making for a very tasty dish that will provide a nourishing meal and delight the entire family or guests at a dinner party.
For a complete guide to the tagine’s history, uses, and a sample recipe, click here. Here’s to a Happy Mother’s Day and helping the women you love remain healthy and beautiful!
Automatic airline refunds!: The Department of Transportation in the U.S. is instituting new rules that require airlines to give automatic refunds if a domestic flight is delayed by three hours or more or an international flight is delayed by six hours or more. The airline can offer an alternative or travel credits, but we won’t be obligated to accept them instead of a cash refund.
Baggage refunds, too!: We’ll also be refunded if airlines don’t return our checked bags within 12 hours for domestic flights and within 30 hours for international. All fees have to be clearly disclosed, too. Thanks, DOT!
Train between Las Vegas and Los Angeles: A high-speed bullet train will run between these two cities, set to launch in 2028. That will be in time for the summer Olympics in L.A. The ride will take just over two hours (at 180mph), which is almost twice as fast as driving. Can’t wait to try it out when it’s ready!
Fast train. Photo by StockSnap.
No more CLEAR?: California is proposing a bill that would outlaw the CLEAR program in airports, which allows people to “cut” the line. Airlines are fighting it.
“Smooch” Cabins?: Ummm… Deutsche Bahn in Germany has introduced two-person cabins on their trains that can be changed from transparent to frosted glass (with a push button) for more privacy, purportedly for “cuddling.” Yeah, right. At least it’s just for two passengers, so no group “cuddling” allowed.
Lake Como fee?: Like Venice, Italy’s Lake Como has suffered from over-tourism, so they’re contemplating a daytripper tax.
No pizza and ice cream in Milan after midnight: Milan may ban the sale of pizza and ice cream after midnight, requiring that restaurants not do these sales outdoors. It’s another effort to curb over-tourism and noise that disturbs residents. I don’t blame them!
Amsterdam cracking down: And Amsterdam is also fed up with over-tourism, so they’re capping overnight stays at 20 million per year and restricting the building of new hotels within the city center.
Going to Athens this summer? Speaking of over-tourism, Athens is apparently receiving a surge in tourism at the moment, so keep that in mind if you plan to visit during the busiest months.
Flying with a dog?: Enter Bark Air, a new airline that caters to passengers with dogs. They have calming treats, poop bags, and beverages during ascent and descent to ease ear issues. Currently, they fly between Westchester, NY airport and Van Nuys, California and London Stansted Airport.
Well-traveled dog. (Stock photo.)
Lifetime bans at Disney: People who fake disabilities to skip the line at Disneyland or Disney World will now face lifetime bans if they’re caught.
National park reservations in the U.S.: Certain national parks in the U.S. will require timed-entry reservations this summer. They are Arches National Park in Utah, Glacier National Park in Montana, Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, Yosemite National Park in California, and Zion National Park in Utah.
Are you a hunter? If you hunt, be sure to check your luggage before traveling, especially internationally. Unintentional ammo has been found in baggage and is landing U.S. tourists in jail. One man was recently sentenced to 12 years in Turks & Caicos for this.
Countries with no airports: There are just five countries that don’t have an airport. They are Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Andorra.
TripAdvisor’s top 10 hotels in the world: Hotel Colline de France in Brazil, OBLU SELECT Lobigili in the Maldives, La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa in Vietnam, Adiwana Suweta in Indonesia, Iberostar Grand Packard in Cuba, Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa in the Maldives, La Siesta Classic Ma May in Vietnam, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya in Mexico, Padma Resort Ubud in Bali Indonesia, and Sofitel Mexico City Reforma in Mexico City.
I visited Iguassu Falls in the late 1990s, and I have wanted to go back ever since. I finally got my chance. As someone who has traveled the world and seen many awe-inspiring places, I have to say that Iguassu is still one of the most spectacular of them all. Unfortunately, no photos can do it justice.
Iguassu Falls from a helicopter. This gives you some idea of its expanse. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The expanse of these Falls is not to be believed unless you see them in person. Iguassu is at least three Niagaras. They are easy to visit, as they’re in a national park in Brazil with concrete walkways, railings, and stairs.
Iguassu Falls. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
There is a bit of climbing stairs up and down in both directions, and if you stop to gawk along the way (as you will), it will take you at least 30 minutes to get to the end in one direction, which is called “Devil’s Throat.” But it still doesn’t take an exceptional amount of exertion.
Devil’s Throat, Iguassu Falls. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The walkway at Devil’s Throat goes out far enough that you will get wet. It’s a powerful section of the Falls with significant spray. Take a rain poncho and enjoy it!
Iguassu Falls walkway near Devil’s Throat. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
This is a rainforest, so give yourself enough days there to make up for the possibility of a day of hard rain. It can also be slightly buggy, although with some natural repellent, I didn’t get bitten. (Dengue fever is a slight risk these days.) There are numerous gorgeous butterflies along the walkway by the Falls, so be sure to notice them.
Iguassu Falls. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The town of Iguassu Falls is about 1-1/2 hours by air from Sao Paulo, so if you’re in Brazil, this site is not to be missed. There are a number of hotels where you can stay while in the small city, but read my review of Hotel das Cataratas, the only hotel within the national park and right across the street from the Falls. It’s an expensive property, but if you can afford it, there’s no better place to stay.
One of the most popular ways to see the Falls is via helicopter ride. The heliport is just a short walk from the entrance to the national park. The ride lasts only about ten minutes, but it provides mind-boggling views of the Falls from above.
Iguassu Falls. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
If you’re so inclined, you can also skydive over the Falls. I’m not entirely sure how that works since you wouldn’t want to land in the water, but I’m sure they have it figured out.
Another popular thing to do in Iguassu is the Macuco Safari, which is a boat ride into the Falls. You will be sublimely wet, but it’s an exciting experience.
Parques des Aves. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
The other place people visit while in Iguassu is Parques des Aves – a bird park that has many species of birds that are either in large enclosures or free-flying around you. They also have a lot of tropical plants and a butterfly/hummingbird garden. It’s a highly recommended place to include while you’re in town.
Parques des Aves. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
I have visited both Niagara Falls in New York State and Victoria Falls in southern Africa, and they’re both marvels. But with my apologies to both of them, no waterfall in the world beats Iguassu. It’s the best – bar none. There’s just no comparison.
So I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful it is to visit this place. If you have the opportunity, please do it. You don’t need to be tremendously fit physically, and there’s just no other place in the world like it.
