Although wireless audio systems are the new standard for convenience and whole-home connectivity, sometimes the quality doesn’t merit switching to a wireless system. Until now. The new Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar, Wedge and Bass have taken wireless to a whole new standard of excellence. The Formation Bar The Bar offers legendary power with 240W total system power, providing quality
Bose does it again—sunglasses enhanced with Bose sound
I am always impressed with the folks at Bose and their superior sound products. Well, they’ve done it again. This time by creating stylish sunglasses with patented acoustic chambers and premium lenses designed for sun and sound. A first-of-its-kind audio platform makes new audio experiences possible by combining the power of a wearable product, mobile devices and integrated apps. The
The French Farmhouse Museum of Grandfontaine – Fournets
I’m in France learning about the production of Comté Cheese when I visit a restored farmhouse dating from 1736 in the Franche-Comté region. Noël Myotte and his wife decided to open their farmhouse as a museum after they were awarded the best restored farm in 1981. Entering a store selling meats, cheeses, local wine and sweets that once served as
Jackson County, NC; a Gem in the Mountains
It’s quiet. Well, there are birds singing and the occasional crunch of gravel as a car slowly passes by, but pretty much it seems like I am a million miles away from anyone or any care in the world. I am staying in a rustic cabin with all the amenities anyone could wish for at Balsam Mountain Preserve. The entire
Clean Cookstove Project delivers hope and health
Imagine what would happen if your fireplace flue was closed. All the wood smoke would fill your home and your lungs. That’s exactly the conditions I witnessed in Losirwa, a tiny Tanzania village. Here Masai women live in small round bomas (traditional homes) with their families and tend the fire that keeps their homes warm and is used to prepare
Check out Canon’s new Instant Print Cameras
Remember the fun you had with Instax and Polaroid when the picture popped out and you instantly had it to pass around and show everyone? Well, Canon has improved on this fantastic experience with its new IVY CLIQ & CLIQ+ instant print cameras. These pocket size cameras and mini photo printers delivers beautiful 8.0MP photos in seconds! My four-year-old granddaughter
Exploring Mateus Palace and Gardens
One of the nicest things about a Viking River Cruise is the included shore excursions; generally speaking, at least one a day. I am sailing on the Viking Osfrid along the Douro River and on this day I am visiting the Mateus Palace and Gardens near Regua, Portugal. Built in the first half of the 18th century, the palace is one of
Photo Essay – Sailing on Portugal’s Douro River
In Portugal, the Douro River is a popular Viking River Cruises destination. The third-longest river in the Iberian Peninsula after the Tagus and Ebron, the Douro is 557 miles and is navigable in Portugal by light rivercrafts. With its mountains and hillsides covered in vineyards and villages with their bright orange-tiled rooftops, it is ideal for anyone wanting to relax
“Eating Europe” now offering tours in Lisbon
My own experience with Eating Europe was in beautiful Florence, Italy. The “Sunset Food Tour” took me through the neighborhood of Santo Spirito surrounding the piazza and the Church of Santo Spirito. We made six stops over the course of three and a half hours walking along cobblestone streets and meeting several locals along the way. Now Eating Europe is
South Carolina’s Rare Plant and Animal Species
South Carolina is an amazing place to discover the great outdoors. Many plants, insects and animals adapted to unusual environments and conditions here and thrived. Dolphins For example, near the mouth of the Kiawah River, where it runs into the Atlantic Ocean by Captain Sam’s Spit on Kiawah Island, visitors can watch a fascinating behavior as pods of dolphins work together