One for the Road: Red, White and Drunk All Over

by Kelly Amabile on

Until I spent a month in Spain, red wine was something I generally steered clear of. I stuck to pinot grigio and the occasional chardonnay, even though I often didn’t enjoy them. But extended travel through Spain, and then Italy, and then Slovenia and Croatia too — and I was hooked on both colors of the wine rainbow. I attribute my growing amateur love of wine to the experience of tasting while traveling — besides meeting local folks, there seems no better way to discover a place than through the wine (and food) that defines it.

Natalie McLean’s book details her own wine love affair and how traveling played a part: Red White and Drunk All Over – A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass is a wonderful introduction to the world of wine, from a journalist and sommelier who started out simply as a curious fan. She writes with experience, but also with honest passion and an engaging interest in all aspects of the industry that is as addictive as the wines she samples. McLean visits France to uncork Burgundy and celebrate Champagne, lingers in wine shops with global appeal in both New York and San Francisco, works as a sommelier in Canada and explores California’s Sonoma Valley. I gathered countless tips and useful insight from her investigative travels, but what sticks with me most is a renewed appreciation for the role that location plays in wine production. The French word terroir refers to the characteristics of geography that make individual wines so unique — it can be loosely translated as a “sense of place”. As a traveler, I’m drawn to what this word stands for — it entices me to set out on fantastic vineyard voyages of my own.

Is there another wine-soaked journey in Natalie McLean’s future? The only disappointment I had with her book was that McLean’s travels did not include visits to Mediterranean countries, or further afar, to places like South Africa, South America or Australia. I’ll be sure to check in at her impressive wine website, Nat Decants, to see if she’ll be embarking on future journeys. In the meantime, consider kicking back with a bottle of red and this truly enjoyable read — it’s a nice gift for all your wine-lovin’ pals…or to quench your own thirst for global grape goodness.

In Your Pocket: The best guidebooks to Eastern Europe (and they’re free!)

by Neil Woodburn on

In Your Pocket is one of the most overlooked, yet exceptional guidebook series out there.

I started using them more than 10 years ago when I traveled the Baltics and had difficulty finding any up-to-date information about the region until I came across these simple, magazine-like booklets that were for sale for less than $1.

In Your Pocket actually began in 1992 when a German and two Belgian brothers hit upon the idea while consuming beers in Vilnius, Lithuania. Since then, In Your Pocket has expanded to cover most of Eastern Europe and parts of the Soviet Union. Germany is thrown in for good measure, as is the publisher’s most recent foray to Dublin.

Two things distinguish these guidebooks from most others. First off, they are written rather tongue-in-cheek and peppered with unexpected humor throughout. The guides are also hip and contemporary. Since they publish regularly instead of every one or two years like more established guidebooks, their information is up-to-date and will always point you in the direction of what’s currently hot and happening.

But the very best thing about In Your Pocket? You can download the PDF free online. Very cool!

One for the Road: Colour – Travels Through the Paintbox

by Kelly Amabile on

This book beckoned me from a front table at Artisan Books on Gertrude St. in Melbourne’s Fitzroy neighborhood. The 2006 paperback version I bought has the bold cover shown here, although I’ve seen several other versions of this book that was originally released in 2002. Regardless of what it looks like, Victoria Finlay’s Colour: Travels Through The Paintbox is a masterpiece. Just as I enjoy looking at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers again and again, so too will I delight in returning to passages from this multicolored exploration of our world.

From ochre to violet, Findlay unearths every possible facet of the rainbow. Her research takes her to Spain, for Consuegra’s Saffron Festival (yellow), to lapis lazuli mines in Sar-e-sang, Afghanistan (blue), and to Mexico, in search of the purple of the Mixtecs (violet). Finlay takes the reader along on this magical journey as she creates a spectacular canvas loaded with pigments, dyes, gems and stones. Her quest to uncover the history and origins of color reveals a rich palette that stretches to every corner of our planet. It would be wonderful to see a map painted to match the discoveries from her color expeditions.

Touring New York City with Holden Caulfield

by Neil Woodburn on

I was never a big fan of Catcher in the Rye–perhaps I wasn’t screwed up enough when I was younger to really empathize with Holden Caulfield. Nonetheless, others simply love this book and consider it one of the best ever written.

For many young fans of the novel, Holden’s vision of New York as he soulfully drags himself around the Big Apple is the first introduction that many have to this great city. His journey reveals a nice sampling of the city and, according to a recent article in USAToday, can still serve today as an unofficial guide since most all of the landmarks are still standing.

“Holden Tours” are actually quite popular according to Beth J. Harpaz, the author of the article. There are no official tours, however, which means that fans have to create their own–something that is now much easier thanks to the do-it-yourself tips that Harpaz provides.

Although fans will recognize Central Park, Grand Central Station, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the book, Harpaz fails to mention the most notorious landmark associated with Catcher in the Rye: The Dakota. If you really want to hate the book, be sure to visit the building where its most disturbed fan gunned down John Lennon immediately after the singer signed a copy of the book for his soon-to-be murderer.

One for the Road: Mundane Journeys

by Kelly Amabile on

I can’t quite recall how I came upon Mundane Journeys, but I’m certainly happy to have stumbled upon the explorations of Kate Pocrass, a conceptual artist with an eye for the overlooked. Kate kindly sent me a copy of her new book: Mundane Journeys: Field Guide to Color. It arrived in a dark chocolate envelope with my name in bright lemon yellow, encircled by fancy squiggles. It’s the most delicious delivery I’ve received in a long time!

And paying attention to details (like how something is packaged) gets to the heart of Kate’s message in her alternative guide to San Francisco. Whether it’s bubblegum, owls, spray painted dots, tree stumps or odd-colored macaroons, Mundane Journeys nudges urban explorers to look closer at the city around them. It suggests a delightfully inviting way to move through a place, uncovering colors and mysterious treasures with child-like curiosity.

Watch a video of a recent tour with Kate, or take one with her. She hosts 4-hour bus tours several times a year, usually once a season. But don’t wait for a scheduled tour to change your perspective — grab Kate’s guide and set out on your own! You’ll be sure to discover something magical among the mundane. And although her book is geared to San Francisco, the concept can be applied anywhere. It’s simple — as you travel, look with intention at the miscellaneous, and see what reveals itself to you.