From up here, this could easily be Napa. It could easily be Italy, or France. The sentiment is echoed by the other twelve people sharing a hot air balloon basket with me as we float lazily on the early morning breeze. Vineyards, orchards, and elegant chateaux beneath us, blue skies above broken up by the…
Editor's note: getting off the beaten path can lead to some amazing experiences, like this trip to Serbia by writer Sam Spector. When I was in Belgrade ten years ago, I remember thinking that it was going to be a hot destination, but wasn't quite there yet. I'm glad to see it made it! For…
The role of apples in societal lore is well documented. From the snake in the Garden of Eden encouraging Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge what has come to be thought of as an apple to Johnny Appleseed and his pot hat spreading seeds all over America to my own Jewish tradition of…
Editor's note: another incredible glimpse into a part of the world I'd never have thought to go by Sam Spector, our wandering rabbi. Check out all of his articles here! This is the second half of my writing on Lebanon, a country that I visited and found fascinating. I decided to write about Lebanon in…
Editor's Note: It's amazing sometimes what seemingly small things from our travels become huge, even life-altering. This story from Madeleine reminds me that the best experiences are the unexpected ones. For more of her stories, click here. Before I tell you about the juice, it’s important for you to understand how much I don’t care…
Editor's note: Another incredible article from Kathryn featuring the story of one of the most iconic drinks in Latin America! Check out all of her articles here on The Royal Tour here. Legend has it that the Incan chief Pachacutec ordered the construction of the Achirana del Inca canal in the deserts of the upper…
As many of you know, food has long been one of my passions. When I travel, I love to try local dishes, go to local spots, and really get a feel for what makes a particular food culture unique. Some places have the reputation for being specific foodie destinations - Italy and France jump quickly…
Porto is sometimes called Portugal's "second city," referring to it being second in both size and importance to the capital, Lisbon. But when it comes to exploration for a traveler, Porto is second to none. While it may not have the historic significance or cultural hubs of its larger cousin to the south, Porto is…
Portugal's namesake beverage from its namesake city - it seems of the utmost importance to have this experience in order to truly get a flavor for the country. But what exactly is port? What makes it different from other wine? Is it even good? Let's start with a couple of caveats. One, as many of…
The sun is shining, and the wide boulevards are full of people. They walk slowly, smiling, never seeming to be in a hurry. I stroll past beautiful stone buildings, pausing to admire them, stopping here and there to watch the joggers, the skateboarders, the picnickers. The river moves past as slowly as the Bordelais themselves.…