Aren’t you the one who dreamt of travelling to the mountains and experiencing all those majestic vistas and dramatic sceneries that fill your Instagram feeds?
Taking time out of busy world affairs seems quite difficult furthermore whenever we have free time; we don’t know what to do with it.
We end up doing nothing or distracting ourselves in technology.
We are so much into technology and monotonous life schedule.
We forgot to love ourselves and the World. Travelling happen to be the most effective de-stressing and energizing activity.
Add something to your being that will create a miracle, add some magic, introduce a new thrill and bring in freshness, says OSHO.
Nothing in this world can compare with the satisfaction that we get from spending time in the lap of nature.
The blindingly blue sky above, birds chirping and crisp air can make everyone forget their stress and can make you feel relaxed.
From forested plains, terrace farmlands, hilly trails, to the Himalayas rich with cultural diversity, magnificent architecture and warm-welcoming people; the country Nepal is lifetime value travel destination.
Visit Nepal 2020 welcomes you to serve you with life’s amazing moments.
Enjoy the peace and cultural heritage or take a high adrenaline trip.
Trek to secluded far-flung or fly like a bird exploring the majestic vistas.
Whatever you choose, you will enjoy exploring Nepal. Nepal has so much to offer for each of its visitors.
A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science found that that “exposure to nature can counteract the negative effects of stress and anxiety.” Those who completed the nature walk tended toward less rumination – the acute focus on one’s distress than those who took the urban route.
Trekking challenges you physically and mentally while amplifying the view of the surrounding.
Trekking brings out best in us, bringing oneself closer to nature and to the inner self.
While exploring and enjoying the scenery; one can also get to know the isolated lifestyle and culture of that place.
Trek offers awe-inspiring vistas to look around, experience it and to take all the goodness of nature.
Nepal is a country known as a trekkers paradise.
It has a challenging and adventurous abundance for all kinds of trekkers.
Experience the thrill while traversing through up hills and downhills.
Adventurous trails cross across several natural resources and allow you to encounter with many endangered species (if you are lucky that day).
The ultimate trekking choice for thrill-seekers and adventure lovers can be Manaslu trek.
It gives you the most adventurous and wild trekking experience.
The most popular treks are Manaslu circuit trek, the Tsum Valley trek, and the Nubri Valley trek.
Manaslu Trek
The Manaslu trek takes you through the traditional village, local heritage, pristine trails to the Mount Manaslu (8,163 m).
It leads you around the circumference of Mount Manaslu through Budhi Gandaki River valley to its source below the Larke La Pass which is one of the highest passes in the world.
Larke La Pass adds much adventure and thrill to this trek.
The pass is 5125m high.
This trek offers the breathtaking view of Mount Manaslu, Mount Himchuli, Mount Ganesh and others.
The variation of the altitude from about 600 meters (2,000 ft) in the tropical zone to the 8,156 meters (26,759 ft) summit of Manaslu in the arctic zone offers diversified ecosystem.
Trekkers can experience a total of six climatic zones in this single trek.
The weather and temperatures are unpredictable and can change often.
The trail crosses its way through Mani walls, Chortens, austere Monasteries, multi-colored prayer flags, age-old ‘Gompas’ and many other Tibetan Buddhist religious landmarks.
This trekking route is through off-the-beaten-path.
Spring and autumn are the favorable months for trek for beginner’s trekker.
Whereas winter and summer are for the adventure enthusiast.
Tsum Valley Trek
A perfect trek to experience the ‘untouched Nepal’.
The Tsum Valley trek takes to the valley of unspoiled wilderness.
Tsum valley was opened for trekking a decade ago and it sees few trekkers which ultimately makes it exclusive and unspoiled.
Tsum valley is nestled between giant mountains Ganesh Himal (7422m) and Shringi Himal (7161m).
The Tsumba culture gives an authentic insight of century-old Buddhist culture.
The famous old monastery Mu Gumpa, built-in 1895 is the oldest and largest monastery in the region.
The trek brings you on some pine and rhododendron forest, pastureland and famous old monasteries with ancient Buddhist paintings across its walls.
The Tsum valley homestays are another attraction of this place.
The special permit is required for trekking in the restricted area.
Trekkers should have proper knowledge of that place before heading for the trekking.
The preparation for the possible climatic condition, proper plan, realisation of limitations of that place can ensure a safe trekking experience.
Trekkers should follow some basic tips and guidelines throughout the excursion.
Trekkers should carry a light backpack with all the essentials that fit the body and good quality trekking boots.
Addition of auxiliary stuff such as sunglasses, basic first aid kit and sunscreen can be helpful throughout the trip.
Proper planning can offer you a hassle-free trek by making you able to make smart choices.
A planned good trip far away from pollution and noise has so much to offer.
It increases your cardio strength, establish calmness and improves physical health.
And a very good adventure experience you can share in future with your grandchildren.
Have you ever realised why Guru and Rishis lived in the mountains?
Remember you got only one life and only you can gift yourself happiness.
Being in the lap of nature seeing its beautiful aspects releases Endorphins – a hormone and a reason behind our happiness, and the happier you are, the better your memory and the functionality of the brain improves.
Manaslu trek offers a great treat to your lungs and inner soul through its untouched remote places.
So, plan your dream trip to Nepal and experience all the fun of life.
The Amazon Firestick is an amazing little device that runs on Android and can turn your ordinary HDMI TV into a smart TV.
Did you know, you can also jailbreak the Amazon Firestick to install several third-party applications like Kodi?
Install Kodi
Kodi is the most popular media player device available on the internet.
It will allow you to watch several different types of online content in the form of videos, podcasts, and so on.
You can install Kodi on any Android device and also on your Firestick.
Kodi is completely free.
Installing Add-ons
Kodi becomes incredibly powerful when you install extra add-ons onto it.
You can easily find hundreds of free add-ons for Kodi on the internet.
These add-ons are all developed by third parties and are safe for installing.
They are also free.
Not only are these add-ons free, but they will also let you watch your favourite TV programs for free.
This will let you view hundreds of television channels live from all over the world.
You can also watch news shows; sports programs live without having to pay for any subscriptions.
Thus you must always install these amazing add-ons.
Some Essential Advice
While it is not technically illegal to jailbreak the Amazon Firestick and install Kodi or any third-party applications, it might come across as online piracy if you access any programs for free on these apps.
It is seen on a par with downloading movies illegally using torrents.
Some countries can have strict rules against such online downloading or viewing of any video content.
It is for this reason that you must use a good VPN service when you use Kodi or any other app.
A VPN is basically a virtual private network, and it will help to cloak your IP address on the internet and keep you safe from getting caught.
The VPN would be essential in keeping you away from any prying eyes on the internet and protect you.
If you want to know more about using Kodi, then you must search for Kodi no limits in your web browser’s search box.
You should also note that it would be wise to use a VPN service when you watch programs for free on Kodi or download any content from torrents.
As more and more articles and reports are being published to make us aware of how our consumption is affecting the environment, it is also becoming easier and more desirable to make more informed ethical choices.
Read on for our top tips to evolve your spending habits and do your bit for a happier and healthier planet Earth.
1. Shop Brands Wisely
Shopping is a fun and satisfying way to express our taste and style, and yet we are becoming more and more aware of how our spending is fuelling catastrophic environmental pollution and unfair labour situations.
Many shops and brands that offer cheaper clothes are often able to do so due to the lack of fair wages, humane treatment and safe working conditions for the workers that are making them.
Spend some time researching your favourite brands to find out the labour practices that they utilise and promote.
Many may be involved in practices you deem unethical, but you may be pleasantly surprised by some high street shops and designers that have taken steps to improve their sustainability ratings in recent years.
2. Invest in Quality Over Quantity
An effective way to shop more sustainably is to make more considered choices about what you buy.
Making less frequent but deliberate purchases of high-quality goods that will last you for years to come, rather than buying lots of fast fashion garments that won’t last long in your wardrobe.
When it comes to clothes and accessories, look for classic pieces that will stay in fashion with each new season and year, made to a high quality that will endure frequent wear.
Look to the many new brands that have emerged in recent years that focus on sustainability.
Many brands reuse, repurpose and redesign second-hand garments and materials to produce far more desirable pieces that appear to be brand new.
Although these brands can often appear to be a more expensive option, the clothes are designed to be long-lasting additions to your wardrobe so that you will get your money’s worth (while doing your bit for a healthier and fairer environment).
3. Buy Fairtrade
When you are hoping to make more ethical decisions in your day to day life, choosing to buy Fairtrade products is an easy and impactful way to do your bit for a better world.
Fairtrade means that the people involved in growing, manufacturing or building your product were paid a sustainable living wage.
This is a stark contrast to the usual processes behind many products, where families are forced to live on low wages despite their valuable hard work.
Buying Fairtrade enables you to do your bit to promote a fair economy that can grow and develop.
Whether you are doing your weekly shop in the supermarket or shopping for gold jewellery, look for the Fairtrade symbol and make an informed choice that supports a fairer and more equal world.
4. Choose Conflict-Free Jewellery
Today it is easier than ever to make informed decisions when it comes to purchasing jewellery.
There can be many human rights and social implications in the process of jewellery-making, and to become a more ethical consumer it is more important than ever to consider where jewellery is sourced and diamonds are mined before committing to a purchase.
In 2003, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was put into action to protect the process of sourcing and trading diamonds.
Throughout history, conflict diamonds have been known to fuel wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The term ‘blood diamond’ refers to diamonds that do not fall within the Kimberley Process Scheme, often the result of smuggling, violent tactics and rebel groups.
The Kimberley Process means that rough diamonds are transported across borders in secure containers so as to not be interfered with, thus reducing the trade of conflict and ‘blood’ diamonds.
Over 70 countries follow the Kimberley Process Scheme, including the UK and USA, with each diamond holding a conflict-free certificate.
Choose conflict-free diamonds for peace of mind that your diamonds have been sourced via the most ethical practices that cannot be traced to violent rebel group tactics.
Whether you are looking for special necklaces, future heirloom earrings or an engagement ring, make an informed choice with a diamond you can be sure was sourced ethically.
Another ethical choice is to choose man-made diamonds.
This particular kind of diamond not only appears identical to natural diamonds, but also has an identical chemical composition and hardness rating.
These diamonds have been made with a scientific process – recreating natural conditions within a laboratory environment.
This eliminates the possibility of inhumane and violent conditions being attached to your diamond, while still resulting in a sparkling diamond that many gemologists cannot differentiate from a natural stone.
Lab-created stones also come with the added ethical bonus of a reduced carbon footprint due to the low-energy processes utilised by labs.
In an age where individual ethical choices are becoming increasingly important and easier to execute, choosing ethically manufactured jewellery is a mindful step in the right direction.
Over the past few years, digital marketing has become an integral part of every promotional campaign.
It is not just a simple means of advertisement anymore, with the right strategy you can drive more sales for your business.
Unlike years gone by where businesses typically relied on print media and advertising such as brochures, pamphlets and billboards, digital marketing gives you a more agile, sophisticated and cost-effective way of promoting your business.
And since the online sphere is way bigger than any other market, you have a better chance of improving brand positioning and achieving faster growth.
With all being said, it all comes down the effectiveness of your digital marketing campaign.
Here’s how you can make the most out of your digital marketing campaign in 2019.
Identify A Long Term Strategy
You need to be absolutely clear about what you want out of your digital campaign.
Setting up goals that are achievable and feasible is the basic building blocks of an effective marketing strategy.
What or who are you are going after?
Do you want to increase sales? Expand brand awareness?
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and other social media platforms have introduced some pretty impressive ways to engage with more people.
What was the reason for Instagram’s success in such a short space of time?
They found unique ways to engage with audiences from every age group. No mean feat!
This is mainly because social media platforms have explored new and exciting ways to express thoughts and ideas.
Promotion via Facebook pages, groups and ads has greatly affected many businesses in a positive way.
And now with the introduction of Facebook live, you can interact with your audience in real-time!
This is a great opportunity and you need to make the most out of it.
Instagram has also introduced some new features for businesses to promote themselves.
Want know how to come up with high quality, engaging content?
Visit the blog at Concept BB for some original and eye-opening ideas about creating stunning content that sells.
Audience Engagement Matters Most
Audience interaction and engagement is the only way to boost sales.
You need to actively engage with your audience directly and often.
Audience engagement is all about interacting them in such a way that makes it impossible for them to want to leave your space.
The longer they stay with you, the more you reinforce your relationship which improves your chances would of sales through trust in your brand.
Here are some tips about active customer engagement
Find out what your audience wants and then give them exactly that
Identify a general problem and offer a simple solution
Don’t sugar coat things, be direct
Be yourself, they’ll appreciate it
Be sincere and care about your audience
Use a variety of content
Measure Metrics
If you want to keep doing well in digital marketing then you need to set up performance measuring parameters.
A good digital marketer knows exactly what they want and how to get there.
Some basic examples of performance measuring metrics would be:
Number of social engagements and clicks
Digital media presence and reach
Number of people visiting your online business
Brand positioning
Conversion rates
Follow a Scheduled Content Calendar
Having a content calendar is really important.
A content calendar is nothing but a schedule for the content that you are going to post or share with your audience on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
A content calendar can help you a lot with your content marketing strategy which is an essential part of every digital campaign.
This means you research everything beforehand, such as which topics you going to cover in a specified time frame and the type of content that you are going to share.
This allows you to focus on one thing at a time making things a lot less overwhelming for you.
Identify Failing Strategies & Improvise
Figuring out what works and what doesn’t is the best way to become a good digital marketer.
This journey is definitely not easy.
In fact, you are obviously going to face some difficulties and failures during your processes.
But overcoming all of that would make you good at it.
The only thing that matters is that you don’t give up and keep learning from your mistakes.
This will allow you to tweak your strategy and implement necessary improvements.
Conclusions
Digital marketing has become the new face of successful marketing.
Even if you have a bricks and mortar business based at a physical location, you still need an online platform to effectively market your business.
So if you don’t have a digital presence or a suitable marketing plan, then it’s time you start giving it serious thought.
It’s not easy building a website for a small business.
However, it’s essential to have a proper and fully functioning website because today it is no longer feasible for any business, even a bricks and mortar firm, to operate without a significant and impactful web presence.
These days consumers turn to the internet to know everything about a product or service, including the location and operating hours.
Even the simplest of websites would be a benefit, but it should be well-designed and include all the necessary elements that give a business the edge in your industry niche.
If you’re dealing with products to sell, it’s your website that will open up new markets and help you to expand your business much easily and cheaply.
There are several website design tools available on the market that has evolved, making it quicker and easier than ever to build a professional looking website.
They are so easy to use that you do not need to know any complex syntax, HTML markup or coding to develop an attractive, useful and functional site.
Irrespective of the program you use however, there are few fundamental rules that you should follow while designing your business website.
If you follow these basic tips, it will help your website in a number of ways such as:
give your website professional look
make your site more visible and easier to find on search engines
open up avenues to get more traffic and a higher rate of conversion.
In short, a professionally designed website will put your company ahead of the others in the competition and in the best light.
A business website should primarily serve as a space where the customers will get general information about your products or company.
It should be a direct platform for e-commerce irrespective of the fact that you are creating a simple website or one that is complex and multilayered.
The most important thing to consider is that it tells what your company does and most importantly, the homepage communicates this clearly.
Also make sure that you communicate all your USPs in plain and simple terms.
Avoid including barriers that will make the user experience more complex and frustrating, leading to missed opportunities.
In order to achieve the best possible results, here are a few things you should consider:
Think about the specific user experience
The buying journey the user will go through
The ways in which they will navigate your site and whether or not it is easy
Users should be able to achieve their goals irrespective of the fundamental goal of your website or its focus.
That means your site should be able to reinforce the goal itself as the users navigate through your site.
Whether or not you wish to accept payments through your website, you may have to include this to realistically achieve success.
If you do want your customers to pay online and you are a retailer or service provider, you will need to get help from a suitable external service provider to receive and process payments correctly, securely and quickly.
Choose a Suitable Domain Name
The next important thing is choosing a suitable domain name.
This will be one of the most important features of your website.
Choose a direct and relevant domain that you can share with your customers as well as prospective clients to reinforce your brand and promote across social media platforms.
Considerations should include:
making sure it is descriptive
you domain is easy to remember and convenient to type in
short and free from abbreviations, acronyms or numbers (where possible)
All this will avoid customer confusion and make your site easily available to them.
Also choose a top-level domain or TLD and make sure that it comes as a suffix at the end of your domain name such as .com, .biz or .net.
Domains ending in .com have been considered as the primary and most sought after domains name extensions around.
Once you have a domain name in mid, find the availability of the domain name by using various online whois lookup tools.
Once you find the ideal domain and extension, you will need to purchase it through a domain registrar.
Before going ahead, make sure that you check for any potential copyright infringements and make sure that you are not encroaching on someone else’s trademarks or a well known brand name.
If you find that your preferred domain is already taken by another company, try reaching out to them to ask if they would be willing to sell it.
This will save you from legal hassles and any potential future disappointment.
Select a Web Host
A web host is requirement for every website.
The “host” is in actual fact a server.
The server stores all the data for the public to access any time, usually from a centralised data centre or sometimes a series of data-centres located world-wide, usually known as cloud hosting.
If you are a small business, then it may be very costly for you to host your own website.
It all depends on your budget as to whether you will go for a dedicated server that will obviously cost you more than opting for a shared web host.
However, along with the low cost comes the fact that you will share the server with other sites and therefore, site speed and performance may be affected during busy times.
Whichever you choose, go for a host who can readily answer questions about the location of its server and offer a reliable level of customer support.
Final Set Up
Once you are done with the initial stages, you will now have to build your pages focusing above and beyond your initial homepage.
You must also set up your payment system, if you wish to and certainly test before you publish your website.
Once published, maintain your site and market it across different social media and search engines for optimal results.
Author Bio
Marina Thomas is a marketing and communication expert. She also serves as a content developer with many years of experience. She helps clients in long-term wealth plans. She has previously covered an extensive range of topics in her posts, including money, budgeting, cryptocurrency, business debt consolidation and business start-ups.
Since the sweet stuff is present in virtually every food product in the market, roughly 13 percent of the typical American diet total calories come from added sugar.
Excess consumption isn’t only bad because it ramps up your calorie intake, but it can also take a toll on your health and well-being.
Sugar can give you cavities, make you fat, and is linked to a host of health issues, from heart diseases, hypertension, mood disorders, to type 2 diabetes.
For these reasons, reducing sugar intake might be one of the best decisions you can make.
That’s where today’s post comes in handy.
Here are a few practical steps to help slowly, yet steadily reduce sugar intake in your diet in a way that won’t leave you starving to death.
Depending on the brand, one can of soda packs in more than the daily limit of added sugar.
It’s also the equivalent, calorie-wise, of four Tim Tams, four large peaches, three English muffins, or one big cup of ice cream.
As a rule, stick with plain water – feel free to add flavour with fruit infusions, citrus, or herbs.
You can also have tea, black coffee, and green smoothies – as long as you don’t add any nasty sugar.
Always Read the Labels
You might be shocked to learn how much sugar is lurking in everyday food.
In fact, out of more 600,000 foods items assessed by this survey, roughly 80 percent have sugar added to it in one form or the other.
It’s not easy to spot sugar on ingredient lists since the sweet stuff can go by many names – roughly 60 names, all of which stand for added sugar in one form or the other.
Don’t know what to look for? Here are the primary aliases sugar goes by:
Turbinado sugar
Maple syrup
Lactose
Organic cane sugar
High fructose corn syrup
Sucrose
Agave
Molasses sucrose
Dextrose
Glucose
Fructose
Dried
Fruit juice concentrate
Molasses
Brown rice syrup
Maltose
Cane sugar
And other words ending in “ose.”
Eat Non-Starchy Veggies
When choosing the greens, avoid the starchy variety such as carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, and corn.
These pack in a lot of carbs and consuming them may raise your blood sugar levels, resulting in hunger pangs.
When someone mentions a trip to Italy, the first thing it comes to my mind is the culture, history and of course – romance.
And once you get there you certainly don’t want to ruin your day when you realise you have forgotten to pack something.
The things you need to pack will be different depending on the time of the year but the things we are going to mention are definitely the things you need to have in order to have a great time.
Don’t Pack Too Much
If you are carrying too much luggage it will cost you more.
Not to mention it’s more difficult to carry it and you certainly won’t have space for all the souvenirs you are going to buy.
This is the reason why you should pack with intent.
A pair or two of pants, a few shirts with short and long sleeves will be enough.
If you think the weather is too hot for a long-sleeve shirt, keep in mind that you will have to cover your shoulders if you plan to visit some of the famous churches in Italy.
Think about the underwear as well. It’s not that difficult to hand-wash them.
Think Twice About Your Shoes
When you plan what shoes to bring with you, the only thing you have to keep in mind is comfort because you will definitely walk for a very long time, especially if you are travelling to Rome or Venice.
A pair of shoes you have already worn will help you here.
Avoid buying new shoes for this special occasion or you can have the worst time ever because of blisters.
You will only need two pair of shoes – one to wear during the long walks and something stylish for the night.
Take Care Of Your Style
If you choose your clothes having only comfort in mind then you may feel a bit sloppy in Italy.
The Italians are interested in fashion.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune on designer’s clothes.
Make several smart, fashionable combinations with the clothes you already have.
Protect Yourself From The Sun
Sunglasses are a must when you go to Italy.
The sunshine is always present, even in winter.
Bringing some extra sunglasses is a good idea in case you lose the ones you already have or you break them by accident.
Another thing which will help you with the sun is ta sunscreen.
You definitely don’t want to think about sunburns.
On the other hand, you can always wear sun-hats to protect your beautiful face.
And if you plan to go to the beach don’t worry what people around you wear.
Just make sure you are comfortable with the swimsuit you are wearing at the moment.
What About Accessories?
Believe it or not, clothes are not the most important things when you travel to Italy.
Since you are going to have long walks there you better prepare some moleskin or bandages in case of blisters.
An umbrella will definitely save the day in case of rain.
Pack your toiletries at home and organise them well.
They are a bit pricey in Italy so you better take your own.
Don’t forget your money belt and never keep all your money in one place.
Electronic Devices For Your Trip To Italy
Camera or Smartphone
In the past it was necessary to bring a camera in order to take amazing photos.
But now, most modern smartphones take wonderful videos and photos.
And if you take a selfie-stick with you it’s even better.
Of course, taking lots of pictures and recording videos will quickly eat up all the storage space on your smartphone or camera.
Sightseeing in Italy can be really long and in most cases your smartphone battery won’t last till the end of the day.
This is the reason why you have to bring a power bank.
Also, keep your phone charger with you just in case you sit in a café where you can recharge your smartphone along the way.
There is nothing worse than an empty battery when there is so much to see and document.
Bring Our Music With You
If you enjoy listening to music while you travel make sure to get your ear buds or noise-cancelling headphones with you.
You don’t need a loud Bluetooth speaker because there is no need for others to listen to the music you like (and maybe they don’t).
Travel Adapter
Having the right power adapter is really handy when you have to charge your devices.
Since most devices have a USB cable, a universal power adapter will do the job.
If necessary, take multiple converters and you are ready to go.
Tablet or Laptop
If you need to write articles for your blog or check emails, go through the photos you have taken during the day, then bringing your tablet or a laptop with you is a good idea.
However, before you decide whether to bring your tablet or laptop with you, just think a little if you can do all these things on your smartphone.
If the answer is yes, there is no real need and you better leave your laptop or tablet at home.
Final Words
Your trip to Italy should become something to remember with a big smile on your face.
With the tips given above you will be prepared for almost any situation.
Rain, blisters, sunburns, not enough storage for your photos and videos or an empty battery on your smartphone, tablet or laptop – all these things can make your trip to Italy really unpleasant.
This is the reason to start packing, pack wisely and in time and don’t let anything ruin your journey.
Gambino Vini is the highest vineyard on Mount Etna in Sicily where volcanic activity first took place about 500,000 years ago.
The Phoenicians, and later the Greeks, were the first to cultivate and produce wine throughout the Mediterranean region.
Volcanic ground, which is rich in mineral salts, creates a grape with the perfect balance of sugar, acid and alcohol for the production of wine.
About the Vineyard
One of the most interesting aspects of growing wine grapes was demonstrated as we toured the vineyard.
The secret of success lies in the degree to which the grapes are exposed to the sun.
The direct exposure to the rising sun from the east in the morning promotes healthy growth whereas the burning afternoon sun from the west demands that the grapes are sheltered by a covering of leaves.
So the pruning of the leaves takes place on the east facing side of the vine.
Seven different wines, using a combination of seven different grapes from Nerello Mascalese to Catarratto are produced at Gambino Vini.
From the stand alone Alicante Rosso wine to the Cantari, Feu d’O and Tifeo varients, which come in both Bianco (White) and Rosso (Red) form, the wines are designed to accompany all food types from fish to spicy meat and vegetables.
We sampled them all alongside the lovingly prepared food.
The menu included classic Italian antipasti comprising mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, salami and olives.
Locally baked yellow flour bread was the perfect accompaniment for a thick chick pea soup, while the highlight proved to be the pork and freshly picked herb sausages made to a secret family recipe.
Smash. Then silence.
Uproarious laughter followed as a raucous group of American diners greeted the shattering of the wine glass as it fell to the stone floor.
We, a rather more sedate English party, looked on in quiet amusement.
The glass had been in the possession of an elderly American lady who clearly found the heady cocktail of ‘Gambino’ wines and spicy Sicilian foods overwhelming.
Our Hosts
The enthusiasm and passion of our genial ‘Gambino Vini’ host Francesco Raciti contributed to a memorable vineyard experience.
Francesco greeted all his guests as if they were his family and his guided tour of the growing vines and wine production facility was both informative and entertaining.
As a widely travelled man, Francesco was also able to draw on his knowledge of wine growing across the continents of North and South America, Australasia and Europe.
Wine production in Sicily has a chequered history.
In Roman times, the Sicilian wines of Manertinum, Tauromenitanum and Populatum were all celebrated for their quality, as was Marsala in the late 18th century by the British sea admiral Horatio Nelson.
However, by the 1970s, the bulk production of wine by co-operatives, mostly from bland white grapes, shifted the focus from quality to quantity.
In more recent times though, thanks to growers like Francesco, Sicily has regained its reputation for producing quality wines.
The tall, wavy haired Francesco came into his own when regaling us with his intimate knowledge of the seven wines that we’d tasted with each of our luncheon courses.
It is rare that you’ll speak to an Italian without reference to family members.
Francesco was no exception as the vineyard had been created by his grandparents and passed through the generations.
He was particularly proud of his children who were set to continue the legacy.
The Tour
Our tour of Mount Etna, which culminated in the visit to ‘Gambino Vini’, was organised by ‘Wild Wide Sicily’ who specialise in nature excursions.
The morning had been spent viewing the effects of numerous volcanic eruptions.
The 1928 eruption created a flow that saw the so far, only destruction of an inhabited area, including the train station at Mascali.
The 1971 eruption buried the newly built Etna Observatory and cable car.
All this information was expertly conveyed by our Sicilian guide.
At 3300 metres high Mount Etna is the biggest active volcano in Europe.
Whilst in a constant state of activity its last major eruption was in the winter of 2008/9.
A more recent eruption on 16 March 2017 injured 10 people, including a BBC News television crew, after magma exploded upon contact with snow.
After plenty of trekking in seasonally hot temperatures we were ready for lunch.
As we rolled out of the vineyard and piled into our 4×4 vehicle one of our party expressed a concern about potential travel sickness as we descended the steep, winding roads.
The driver informed us that paper receptacles were available if the worst happened.
We couldn’t resist enquiring as to which nationality were the worst at holding their drink.
The driver was far too polite to say, offering us the classic diplomatic line, “I couldn’t possibly comment”.
However, we arrived safely at our hotel with none of our wine or sausage going to waste.
About the Author
Paul Ashton is a UK resident who loves travelling in Italy, usually via the reliable Italian rail network. He and his wife enjoy regular trips to their holiday apartment in Marina di Caulonia on the southern Ionian coastline of Italy.
It’s never too late to take a vacation even if Labour Day is just around the corner.
Fall is a great time to seize the day and some great travel opportunities.
It might all be at last minute, but if there’s a chance for you to go, take it and have the time of your life!
In late summer and early fall things get much cheaper than during the summer season and if you want to get a piece of that cake, keep reading to get some ideas where you might travel this fall.
Before You Go
There are some great advantages in travelling in the post-summer season, especially if you have been on the road already.
In that case, you might have some miles piled up and many airlines will offer off-peak fares and reward-qualifying seats in the period between September and November.
However, be careful to calculate what your ticket is worth both in miles and money so you don’t get the worse part of the deal.
Also, bear in mind that early fall is the storm and hurricane season in the Gulf Coast, Caribbean and East Coast so you could reschedule and reconsider your travel insurance.
Get apolicy that covers all those expenses and check your medical coverage as well.
Also, check what your credit card offers as well, as it may include benefits such as trip interruption, trip cancellation and baggage delay.
Finally, many areas in the U.S and around the world host various festivals in the fall so the prices around this time of the year might be higher.
Visit Warm Parts of the USA
Disneyland is always a great idea for a vacation, whether you have youngsters or not.
The park tickets stay the same throughout the year but accommodation on and around the property can be up to 30% or less.
Florida has amazing weather this time of the year with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds and California won’t disappoint with numerous attractions for the entire family in Napa Valley, Sonoma and the Central Coast.
Visit the Big Apple
Fall in New York with mild temperatures and gorgeous colours of changing leaves is a perfect destination for any enthusiastic tourist.
Whether you’re flying in or you’ve decided to take a bus from Montreal to New York, you’ll have many great things to see and do both outdoors and indoors.
Firstly, New Yorkers love Halloween so you’ll be able to enjoy Halloween festivals and events in every borough.
In addition to pumpkins and scary costumes, you’ll get the chance to slurp down some oysters during Oyster Week, and get the latest fashion report at the NY Fashion Week.
You might prefer to warm up with some quality whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Festival, attend several NYC street fairs and parades, wave to 40,000 marathoners running through the city streets and enjoy the best beers during the Oktoberfest.
See Europe
Most of Europe is seasonal and the prices can go down as much as 40%.
It’s also a very diverse region, both in terms of geography and climate so plan your visit according to the local weather and characteristics.
For instance, late October can be quite chilly and rainy, especially in northern parts of Europe but as there are many fantastic restaurants, art venues, museums and other indoor facilities, the weather probably won’t be much of an issue.
Southern Europe, which includes Croatia, Italy and Greece, has amazing weather through early November so you’ll have the opportunity to bask in the sun and even catch a few waves.
Enjoy Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a land of many beauties, delicious food and great beaches.
With the hurricane season ending towards December, your fall vacation can be a pure joy with prices down by 30 to 40% than during the summer season.
As this country is a part of the U.S, you won’t need your passports or shots, but as the weather can be unpredictable at times, do pick up your insurance and have a contingency plan.
The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of your travels.
On the contrary, pick a destination or a few from the list of suggestions here and head off to new adventures!
