The morning we arrived in Honningsvåg, the weather forecast read: sunrise at 12:00 a.m., sunset at 12:00 a.m. High above the Arctic Circle, the sun neither rises nor sets — a fitting introduction to a journey where the Northern Lights didn’t need chasing. From polar nights and whale-filled fjords to quiet meals of king crab and unexpected detours, this was an Arctic experience shaped as much by timing and place as by preparation.

When I told a friend I was going to Lapland, he joked that I had traveled so much I was starting to invent places. Fair. Lapland sounds imaginary — but north of the Arctic Circle, amid husky safaris, reindeer sleighs, and glowing winter skies, it proves itself breathtakingly real.

On assignment for Travel + Leisure, Tesa Totengco boards PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot—the world’s only luxury icebreaker—for a winter voyage through Canada’s frozen St. Lawrence. Snowshoeing, dogsledding, and Michelin-level dining redefine exploration. Equal parts adventure and elegance, this is the future of travel in the polar world.

Varanasi is not a place you simply visit — it’s a place that absorbs you. From astrology readings and silk weavers to sunrise prayers on the Ganges, Tesa and her stepson Ryan discover the city where life and death meet in divine harmony. A journey both humbling and unforgettable.

Panama reveals its many faces — historic Casco Viejo, highland coffee farms, black-sand beaches, and living indigenous artistry. Join us as we trace a journey of flavor, craft, and connection beyond the Canal — through a country as soft and kind as its people.

Tucked high in Boquete’s cloud forest, Hacienda Mamecillo is no ordinary dining experience. Rolando (Rolo) Chamorro and Gabriella Carlsson have transformed an abandoned coffee farm into Panama’s hidden table, where candlelight, greenhouse-grown flavors, and a seven-course tasting menu come together in an unforgettable fusion of farm, theater, and family passion.

From Prague’s cobblestones to Budapest’s ruin bars, my first river cruise aboard AmaWaterways’ AmaMagna was a revelation. Twice the width of a traditional ship, AmaMagna brought us through five countries in seven nights, with spacious suites, flexible excursions, and unforgettable meals. Along the way, I rediscovered Vienna over schnitzel, connected with my Benedictine roots at Melk Abbey, and shopped for treasures from TONAK hats in Prague to embroidered blouses in Bratislava.

In La Rioja, wine is more than a drink—it’s the rhythm of life. We wandered storied cellars, tasted vintages beside the Ebro River, and lingered over lunches with views of Frank Gehry’s titanium masterpiece. From Calle Laurel’s pintxo magic to watching white horses gallop through a village square, our days were filled with the flavors, landscapes, and quiet wonders that make Rioja unforgettable.