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.
From seaside oysters and sunlit strolls to wood-fired fish and French-Basque macarons, this chapter of Anywhere Is Good journeys through San Sebastián and the French Basque Country—where slow travel tastes better, stories linger longer, and every stop reveals another kind of magic.
I first visited Bilbao in the 1980s—pre-Guggenheim, pre-Bourdain. While my then-beau rehearsed with the Bilbao Opera, I wandered the city solo. It was gritty, authentic, and entirely unconcerned with charm. When I asked a local where to eat, he shrugged and said simply, “Anywhere.” Not a recommendation, not a list. Just a quiet kind of assurance that wherever I ended up, it would be good.
In June 2024, I was invited for an exclusive pre-opening stay at the fairytale Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, nestled on the shores of Lake Fuschl in Austria’s Salzkammergut region. From hot air ballooning at sunrise to chillout boating at sunset, spa serenity to private Mozart recitals, this three-night preview was pure storybook magic. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this soon-to-open Rosewood gem a dream for luxury travelers.
Michael and I, together with two friends, have been in Africa since May 6. We started our trip in Cape Town for 11 days and flew to Windhoek on May 17 for our 23-day self-drive journey in Namibia.
The seed of this trip sprouted three years ago when I started my business and one of my first clients asked me to help her plan a Namibia self-drive. Often, it is the wanderlust of my clients that inspires me.
We spent three nights in the Northern Serengeti with three goals: to witness the great wildebeest migration, to ride a hot air balloon, and to spot the elusive leopard. We watched the wildebeest cross the Mara River on our first day. The next, we eagerly set out for the balloon ride, a first for all of us.
In case you didn’t notice, I have a new logo ☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼 and it fits my new website I’ve been working on. I hired a graphic designer on Upwork and the entire process was a revelation. I uploaded my job requirements and in 24 hours received proposals from talented designers all over the world. After reviewing everyone’s portfolios, I chose Hanna from Seattle and couldn’t be happier.
Hanna drew the double birds on her first pass and I saw a representation of TT, my personal and business initials. Once the birds were in my consciousness, I realized that they were, in fact, already around me.
Sign #1 - I have four framed Audubon bird prints on my bedroom wall.
Sign #2 - next to three Bordallo Pinheiro ceramic flying swallows.
Sign #3
One of my favorite memories in Lisbon and captured so effortlessly by my husband Michael, was the time in Barrio Alto when a flock of birds coming from nowhere flew so close to us in an otherwise empty street.
“If it’s me reading the signs”, this match was meant to be.
I was supposed to go to Colombia this month on a Familiarization trip sponsored by the Colombia Tourism Board. The trip has been postponed due to rising COVID cases. It’s a strong reminder that although vaccinations in America are fueling the surge in travel bookings, the rest of the world is not quite there yet.
Last Sunday, for the very first time since January 2020, I hosted a family dinner at home. Our sons Alex and Abe who have had their first vaccine shot came with full appetites. Mom (our special guest of honor), Michael and I are fully vaccinated. The event is worth mentioning because this is the first time that we all hugged and kissed each other without reservation. That is cause for celebration in itself.
High up on my bucket list was the Great Wildebeest Migration across the Mara River in Tanzania. We were fortunate to witness this not once, but twice. In the vastness of the Serengeti, there were only a handful of tourists and only a smattering of safari vehicles on the river banks. In a normal year, hundreds of jeeps line the Mara River jockeying for the best viewing position.
