Ocoa Bay is the only vineyard in the Caribbean. Found in Azua about one and a half hours from the Dominican Republic’s capital Santo Domingo, its position between the Central Mountains and the sea has a dry climate perfect for cultivating grapes. I sampled a lovely Temparillo followed by a French Colombard of a quality to satisfy any connoisseur. Maria Claudia and Guillermo Mallarino left careers as oncologists in the USA when they fell in love with this location. ‘We noti

image shows inside the Palazzo Bozzi Corso I am just back from the gorgeous baroque city of Lecce in Puglia, right down in the heel of Italy. Even a couple of days there is enough to explore the winding streets crammed with cherubs, gargoyles and gremlins grinning down from every glorious church. And then there is a fascinating Roman ampitheatre in the central Piazza Sant'Oronto which is just as busy as it would have been in days gone by, these days packed with people enjoyi

TOP TEN THINGS TO DO IN BELIZE Take a trip down Monkey River near Placencia. A local guide such as Percy will point out howler monkeys, crocodiles and even take you for a home-cooked lunch at his sister’s house The Blue Hole – best seen by small sea plane or take a dive tour with many of the operators here. ATM Caves. Swim into the Actun Tunichil Muknal or ATM cave to see evidence of Maya sacrifices including a crystallized skeleton Involves a hike, swim and short climb in c

Rising out of the jungle in the steamy afternoon heat with the shrieks of howler monkeys in the background is a towering black temple; marked by age and worn by climbing feet over thousands of years ……..This is my first glimpse of the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal, Guatemala, one of the wonders of the Americas. We stay until sunset as the sky turns pink over the five magnificent temples and return the next morning at sunrise with the toucans, macaws and parrots. I am told tha

The Central American country of Nicaragua is one of the safest countries in the region these days with a wealth of natural attractions including volcanoes, lakes and a breathtaking landscape as well as beautiful old colonial towns and cities . UK visitors are increasingly turning their eyes towards the country, sometimes called The Land of the Poets because of its strong poetic heritage. (The most famous Nicaraguan poet is Dario (1867-1913) but there are many others well know

The southern Cypriot town of Larnaka has not always been as popular as some other spots in Cyprus. But a recent visit found a wealth of attractions with old meeting new in traditional architecture, historic churches and bustling taverns. Don't miss a walk around the lovely old town with some good shops and cafes, or a meal in one of the many excellent restaurants. Here is our top ten: 1 Agios Lazaros - Saint Lazarus Byzantine church. Built in 900 AD the church stands in a l

Castles, lakes, horses and beer – why we are loving the Bohemian life! EASTERN BOHEMIA IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC OPENS UP TO UK VISITORS Image: Ladislav Renner Czech Tourism A new direct flight to Pardubice in the Eastern Bohemian region of the Czech Republic opens up a wealth of opportunities for UK travellers to visit this hidden gem.Ryanair commenced the new route this month. Pardubice lies in the Labe lowlands, surrounded by meadows, forests and lakes. It is probably best kn

Exquisitely located in the tranquil Himalayan foothills of India, close to the mythological city of Rishikesh and the fabled River Ganges, Ananda is a magical retreat that includes two royal palaces. Its yoga retreats combine Indian spirituality with 21st century luxury so that guests can experience international wellness treatments alongside traditional yoga from world-renowned masters. Guests can enjoy tailor made yoga programmes, ancient yogic cleansing practices and newly

In the Dark Horse in Leslieville, Toronto, locals are devouring butter tarts the size of their fists. If Canada has a national food, it is this, a hybrid creation that is part French tarte au sucre and part British treacle tart. The Dark Horse is the first stop of a popular food tour with Culinary Adventures (www.culinaryadventureco.com) in which ‘Chef Scott’ takes visitors to an interesting mix of food and drink locations, peppering the walk with quirky facts and local anecd

'Breathe deeply and connect to that part of you behind your heart and ask yourself: What is stopping me from being who I really am?’ invites Victor John Borg, the creator of the Satori centre in a spontaneous meditation. We are on Gozo, a tiny drop of an island in the Mediterranean next to Malta. Dotted with the world’s oldest temples, Gozo has a magic and a magnetism. It is as if Victor has plugged into this and Satori, his new open community of holistic practitioners, is al