Rio de Janeiro is a city of contrasts and great diversity. Squashed in between imposing mountains, the ocean and a massive bay, the Rio…
Velvet Escape travel blog
History brought to life at Sovereign Hill
“A theme park?”, I asked my guide as we strolled around Melbourne. Cartoon characters and wild, adrenaline-inducing rides immediately sprang to mind. “Well, no”,…
History and wine in Rheingau
Rheingau is one of the most historically significant wine-producing regions in Germany. Situated along the Rhine River just west of Frankfurt (map), the region…
Rail away in Europe
There’s just something special about travelling by train. The rhythmic sounds and motion, the scenery that whizzes by, the other travellers you meet along…
Wine-blending at Middelvlei Wines
It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Almost every time I take a sip of a white or red blend, I try to differentiate…
The tulip fields of North Holland
It’s my favourite time of the year; when the trees and plants awake from their winter slumber and celebrate this with a riot of…
Panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro
The best place for the most spectacular views of Rio de Janeiro is from atop the Corcovado Mountain at the foot of the Christ…
A weekend in Berlin
It had been a hectic week at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair, which I visit every year. I didn’t get to…
An oasis in the snow
It was a dreamy, somewhat surreal feeling. As I sat in a rock pool at the Spa Scandinave Mont Tremblant, with a blanket of…
