Mr Romance 
Nicknames for San Francisco span back almost to its European discovery in the 1770s. Anything from simple acronyms to a native plant have been the eponym for this fascinating city. But what do the locals call their hometown? A quick Google search for San Francisco nicknames will draw a surprising range of sometimes bizarre options. … Read more
Bergamo – the wallflower city to Milan’s flourish of high fashion – is missing out on a lot of credit. Its bustling streets and hilltop Old Town have all the charm, romance and mystery of a fine Italian city. So why don’t more people come here? If I were to ask you to name the … Read more
This week has been a lot of schmoozing, which is a lot of fun. Launches of Nespresso’s latest (and possibly greatest) boutique in Sydney and the Sheraton Hyde Park’s promotion to Sheraton Grand status all called for big parties. Plus I met up with some mates to celebrate a Wednesday (seemed a good enough reason) … Read more
England doesn’t have a good-food reputation, but hidden in the rough are some food gems. In the beautiful English countryside of Suffolk, the market town of Sudbury has taken more than its fair share of shareable fare. Here are some of our favourites. There used to be a time when, to find the best food … Read more
Everyone knows that Cuba’s most famous product is its cigars. But not many know how Cuban cigars are made. Crafting a perfect cigar is an artform, but to see it done, you have to visit a cigar factory in Cuba. The words ‘Cuban’ and ‘cigar’ go together so naturally, don’t they? It’s the perfect collocation. … Read more
In spite of Christina and I doing our best to lose all the travel weight our bodies have discovered since April, this week has been pretty food heavy. Not that I’m complaining. These are some of the most fun kilos I’ve ever gained, but this week has been a bit of a dead rubber in … Read more
Gewurztraminer has a reputation for being a very sweet white wine and isn’t that popular in Australia. But a cold-climate ‘Gewurz’ challenges both wine lovers’ precepts and its own reputation. The first time I tried Gewurztraminer (pronounced “ga-verts-tram-eena”, and often referred to as just ‘Gewerz’) was in California in 2014. I was on a wine … Read more
Croatia’s dramatic coastline and lush green hills are home to some of the most picturesque towns in Europe. Here are 7 iconic Istrian towns to visit in Croatia. There are few better travel experiences than driving winding roads that reveal the spire-prickled profile of a little drystone town. Or that lead you to the blue … Read more
When you think of Lake Como, the romance of this truly beautiful lake comes to mind. But it’s not until you see the Grand Hotel Tremezzo that you truly understand why Lake Como is so special. Sign up to our free newsletter here for more travel inspiration. You also get your own copy of our … Read more
There’s always a danger when you come home from a trip of post-holiday blues setting in. Couple that with a hefty case of jetlag and the thought of going back to work – it’s not a happy recipe. We’ve just got back from an amazing 7-week trip to Europe, and while it’s lovely to be … Read more