Qutub Minar Complex

While in Delhi, I had the opportunity to visit Qutub Minar, one of the most important historical icons of the city.

The attraction is one of the main UNESCO World Heritage sites in Delhi.

Ruins at Qutub Minar

After paying the 250 Rupees entrance fee, I began to browse the many ruins and structures positioned within the complex.

Quwwat-ul Mosque

Located next to the minaret is Quwwat-ul Mosque, one of the original Delhi mosques built by a Mughal ruler.

72.5 meter tall minaret

But it’s the jaw dropping sight of the 72.5 meter tall minaret, which served as a watch tower, that made visiting Qutub Minar one of the top things to do in Delhi.

It’s mainly constructed of red sandstone, with sections dating back nearly 1,000 years ago.

Details of the minaret

Again, just like many of the historical attractions in India, like the Agra Fort, the fine details were extremely impressive.

Carved into the minaret were countless writings and depictions.

Qutub Minar in Delhi, India

Giant flocks of birds dwelling within the ruins and flying back and forth from perch to perch added to the already amazing ambiance.

A favorite place to take photos

There are also a number of Mughal tombs at Qutub Minar, one of them being a favorite place for photos.

The marble and red sandstone carvings were intricately carved and some were well preserved.

Friendly students

While Qutub Minar is a popular foreign tourist attraction, it also attracts many local Indians as well, including lots of students who always love to be photographed!

Start of a new minaret

Just a few hundred meters from the main minaret is the base of another minaret that was started and never completed.

This minaret was intended to be even taller and grander than the original, but unfortunately it never happened.

Located in South Delhi, Qutub Minar is one attraction you don’t want to miss when you’re in Delhi.

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Ngorongoro Crater (photo: wwarby)

Tanzania is one of the most visually breath-taking countries on the planet.

Etched with extinct volcanoes, wildlife-packed plains, white sand beaches and the continent’s highest peak – the magnificent Kilimanjaro – this is a holiday destination with kick.

Top 5 Places to Visit

You might not want to dedicate too much time to the capital of Dar-Es-Salam, but you’d be missing out if you didn’t visit Kariakoo Market.

This mad, sprawling assortment of stalls is the biggest in the country and a good place to see what urban Tanzania is really like.

The extinct volcano of Ngorongoro Crater is packed with unique wildlife and offers phenomenal views. It’s a strange feeling to descend down over the high walls of the crater into a national park where lava once bubbled.

You’ll be likely to spot herds of elephants, rhinos and lions and in fact, is the only place in Tanzania where you’re virtually guaranteed to see all of The Big Five.

Take a trip to Karatu, a sweet highland town where much of life goes on as it did before tourism arrived. It’s often used just as a base for visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, but deserves more of your time than this.

The cooler climate offers a break from the lowland heat; you could spend days exploring the rural delights of the coffee plantations, walking through local villages, and watching Maasai herders caring for their cattle.

The gorgeous islands of Zanzibar are the perfect start or end to a holiday in Tanzania. Here, you’ll laze on sparkling white beaches and let the Indian Ocean lap at your toes.

The main island of Unguja has amazing diving on the coral reefs, Pemba is a forest-covered nature paradise, and Mafia offers up rustic fishing village charm.

The Serengeti National Park is a prime wildlife-watching spot, drawing visitors to marvel over the biggest animal migration in the world as wildebeest, antelope and zebra swarm over its great plains.

Book a hot air balloon rise at sunset to see it at its best, from a bird’s eye view.

When to Go

If you’re keen to catch the wildebeest migration, you’ll need to time your visit to fall in August or September.

For wildlife viewing in general, it’s best to visit during the dry season, from June to October, as animals gather at water holes.

Zanzibar is warm and sunny all the year round, although from February to April it’s hotter, more humid and gets a few more showers than the rest of the year.

What to Pack

It can get cooler than you might think in the evenings and early mornings, so take a light sweater or fleece and maybe even some gloves. A bandana or scarf is good for keeping dust off the face.

A few simple first aid items can come in handy, such as anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea pills, electrolyte powder for upset stomachs.

Take some wet wipes, hand sanitizer and toilet rolls too in case you need to use a public restroom!

You’ll also need to make sure you get the necessary jabs and get suitable malaria medication before you leave home.

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Beach in Barcelona (photo: David Lee)

Making your way to Barcelona? Excellent choice!

Now to decide in which area of this amazing city you want to stay. Are you a laid-back Barceloneta dweller, or a cool Born urbanite?

With so many different ‘barrios’ in the Catalan capital, each one offering a distinct cultural experience, choosing where to stay in Barcelona can be a little overwhelming.

Whether you are in search of the buzzing beach vibes of Barceloneta or the historic richness of the Gothic Quarter, choosing the right holiday apartment in Barcelona could mean the difference between a good trip and an incredible one.

Take a look at our list of the top five neighbourhoods in Barcelona, all with their own charms and all in prime locations, making it easy for visitors to explore all of the Catalan capital, hassle-free!

1. Barceloneta

Situated right on the coast of the Mediterranean, the seaside village of Barceloneta offers visitors both astonishing sea views and easy access to all of the sights in and around the city.

This area is a popular choice with many travellers, and is perfect for those looking to make the most of the beaches in Barcelona.

With plenty of bars, shops and picturesque ports, Barceloneta is ideal for kicking back and escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.

The area is also home to some of the best seafood restaurants in the city, ensuring an all round Mediterranean experience.

2. Gothic Quarter

Intrigued by the longstanding history of Barcelona? Well then, the Barri Gòtic in the Ciutat Vella district is the only choice for you.

Nestled in between El Raval and El Born, the Gothic Quarter is home to winding alleyways and quaint plazas, allowing visitors to catch a glimpse of Barcelona’s history up-close.

Here you can stay right beside ancient Roman walls and medieval buildings, which are dotted all around the town.

Situated in the heart of the city, the area is also conveniently close to the famous Las Ramblas, making it easy to explore both the old and more modern parts of Barcelona.

3. Gràcia

In search of a traditional Catalan atmosphere? If so, Gràcia will be right up your alley. The neighbourhood is located near the Eixample and Sarrià areas on the upper side of the city.

Here you can experience all the very best in Catalan culture, from small, locally owned boutiques to charming restaurants and lovely plazas, some of which play host to Sardana dances, the national dance of Catalonia, on Sundays.

In Gràcia visitors can enjoy a “small town” feeling, while still remaining close to all of the sights in Barcelona.

The area is slightly quieter during the day, but comes to life at night with a trendy bar scene that attracts everyone from young residents to celebrities.

If you’re heading to Barcelona in August, don’t miss the Festa Major de Gràcia: a week-long festival where the streets of this neighbourhood are covered in brightly coloured, home-made decorations and Mojitos are on sale around every corner!

La Sagrada Familia (photo: David Lee)

4. Eixample

If you’re a Gaudí fanatic, then Eixample is the neighbourhood for you.

This Barcelona ‘barrio’ is home to many of the most revered sights in the city, including the towering Sagrada Familia.

The district is also home to many outdoor cafes, shopping areas and parks.

Eixample is split into two districts (Eixample Izquierdo and Eixample Derecho) which hold equally as many exciting things to do or see.

Within this district you will also find the famous shopping street, Passeig de Gràcia, and two more of Gaudí’s best known creations: the colourful Casa Batlló and unique Casa Milà (La Pedrera).

5. Born

One of the oldest neighbourhoods in Barcelona, El Born, is home to charming boutiques, museums, quirky restaurants and cool bars.

This town was once the site of medieval jousting competitions and witch burnings, but it is now known as a trendy cultural hub where travellers can find something for everyone.

The famous Picasso Museum and the Santa María del Mar church can be found here, as well as some interesting eateries and unusual stores.

The Parc de la Ciutadella is to the north of the district and offers a great place to chill out or have a picnic. Choosing El Born as the base for your trip ensures a perfect combination of history and current culture.

So, whether you wish to kick back beachside, enjoy a true Catalan experience or get lost in the winding streets of the Old Town, there is certainly a neighbourhood for everyone looking to rent an apartment in Barcelona, be it for a short or long-term visit.

What’s more, this list is by no means extensive, with areas such as the artistic Raval and the upscale Sarrià providing their own charms to visitors to the city.

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The following is a sponsored review written by Mark. All opinions are his own.

Accor Hotels is a luxury accommodation group of over 4,000 hotels spanning 90 different countries, representing a range of top hotel chains such as Sofitel, Pullman, and Novotel.

The Australian branch of Accor Hotels covers a great range of accommodation options all the way from Western Australia to New South Wales.

Design and Functionality

One thing I like about the website is that it’s clean, with not a lot of clutter, making it easier and less of a hassle to navigate than many other hotel booking websites.

The homepage includes just a single, simple navigation bar at the top, a search box to the left, and a number of popular destinations and featured hotels in the body section.

The first option for searching for a hotel is the box on the left hand side where you can enter your destination, dates, and the amount of nights you wish to stay, in order to do a quick search of what’s available.

For browsing hotels there are two main ways: by hotel brand name (such as Sofitel or Ibis Hotel), or by location (Brisbane, Queensland or Hobart, Tasmania).

Overall, I prefer searching by location, an option that allows you to focus in on exactly where you’re going in Australia and then compare your options of what hotel brands are available in that area.

For instance, if you hover over the “Hotel Locations” tab, go down to “New South Wales,” and then click on Sydney, you’ll be presented with a nice list of Accor hotels in Sydney (including a variety of different branded hotels).

You can get even more specific by location (depending on how large the city is) by clicking on a location like Sydney Harbour or Sydney Olympic Park which present less options, but a more refined location.

Navigating by city in Australia

Top Features

Again, like I mentioned above, the design and functionality of the site are right on. Searching by either hotel or brand name makes booking a hotel of your choice effective and hassle free.

Also, after choosing either hotel brand or location, the top listing is always a description of your particular search.

From the “Accor Hotels” tab, click on Sofitel, and directly above the accommodation listings you’ll find a nice description regarding the property and all the amenities they have to offer.

Likewise, if you search a location like hotels in Bondi Beach, you’ll find a brief, but helpful excerpt about the area including attractions and highlights.

After deciding on a suitable hotel, you can then choose your personalized options (like dates and room size), and you’ll be presented with a price that already includes taxes. From there it’s easy to make a booking if you so desire.

Customer service is also a standout feature. You can easily click on the contact link at the bottom of the website, or just give Accor Hotels a call via their toll free phone number, which is prominently displayed at the top of the website.

Gallery and individual hotel overview

How the Site Could Be Improved

Once you click on a hotel to view the booking deal, the top navigation bar and the footer rearranges (taking you to the main Accor website instead of remaining within the Australia branch), making it a little confusing.

Both user reviews and more, larger-sized, photos of each hotel are a few things I thought could use improvement.

Nowadays, user reviews are essential when booking hotels online, and I would assume many people, after finding a suitable hotel on the Accor Hotels website, would then do an online search for it again to see what peers have personally said about it.

The hotel photo galleries are also not overly attractive, each hotel only includes a few small images.

Users want to be impressed by the photos – those are the first mental images of a hotel – the pictures make a hotel appealing, and large high-quality photos are helpful in making accommodation decisions.

Conclusion

Accor Hotels Australia is a convenient search tool and booking agent for arranging luxury accommodation in Australia. You’ll find competitive rates and a number of special offer deals as well.

With a few small improvements I think the site could be better, but overall, it is nicely designed, simple to navigate, and easy to make a booking.

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North Indian Food

India is a vast country and home to a diverse range of cuisine.

North Indian food is far different from Northeastern Indian food or South Indian food, and if you get even more specific, each and every region is famous for its own certain dishes.

After visiting a few of the major cities in the North of India, and dining on lots of local food, I’ll try to cover a few of the general things that I noticed distinctly about North Indian food.

North Indian food is often what many people would think of as just Indian food.

It’s the North Indian curries that are often found outside of India in Western restaurants (but don’t forget about South Indian food either – it’s equally as delicious, but different).

Within North India you’ll find everything from street stalls to high end restaurants like Bukhara, all serving classic North Indian fare.

Common cooking methods include deep frying for many of the snacks, grilling or roasting for meat, and slow simmer stewing for all sorts of curries.

As soon as you arrive in India and start eating, you’ll notice that there’s a lot of vegetarian food and restaurants available.

If you are vegetarian, you’ll enjoy the variety of tasty pure-veg dishes, and if you’re a meat eater, you’ll never be far from outstanding meat either!

Chapatis

While rice is the ultimate staple in much of the South portion of India, in the North, while rice is often available, a meal is never complete without bread.

Tandoori roti, chapati, naan, and many other types of flat breads are extremely popular and vital for all North Indian meals.

Bread is used as the main filler and as a great way to scoop us sauces.

Dal, or lentils, is one of the most essential foods in all of India.

North Indian styles of dal curry are normally a little thicker and richer than South Indian variations. It’s not uncommon for someone just to eat dal and bread for a meal.

Chicken curry

For more substantial main dishes, a diversity of curries and barbecue meats are always available.

Chicken, beef, mutton, and eggs are all stewed in lots of spices and ghee (clarified butter). The thick rich sauces are truly marvelous.

North India is also extremely famous for its barbecued meats. Tandoori chicken, chicken that’s been marinated in spices and yogurt and then roasted in a clay oven known as a tandoor, is one of the most famous.

Common vegetables include potatoes, peas, okra, onions, carrots, and all sorts of beans. Green leafy vegetables are not all that common, but rather vegetables which go well in curries.

Dairy plays a huge role in North Indian food.

Paneer, a hearty cheese, is one of the most popular main ingredients, especially for those that are vegetarian and need protein.

Thick full-fat yogurt is heavily used in snacks known as chaats, and also is often served along with any normal thali (a fixed meal including a variety of dishes and starch).

Milk and products of milk form the foundation of many of the North Indian sweet desserts as well.

Chole bhature

One comfort food that I especially enjoyed eating while in Delhi is a dish known as chole bhature.

Chickpeas are curried in plenty of spices and dished up with chillies and onions, and garnished with cilantro.

It’s available all over the streets of Delhi and usually eaten along with a few freshly grilled chapatis.

North Indian food is a joy to eat; It’s rich, extremely satisfying, and packed full of spicy flavor!

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Tunisian Brik (photo: Rusty Clark)

If you’ve ever travelled to Tunisia before, you’ll know it can be quite expensive. Although if you fly with Gatwick, and take on Gatwick Parking. This way you’ll save a bunch, which can be spent on their delicious food.

For those unfamiliar with doing so, eating in Tunisia can seem like a very strange and exotic experience.

Commonly served dishes may seem unfamiliar or to be made with ingredients not commonly served together in other countries. Of course, specialties may differ between regions, but there are certain dishes which are considered staples of the Tunisian diet.

Though not a universal truth, many Tunisian dishes are spicy. The cuisine in Tunisia is a mixture of Mediterranean cuisine and that of desert dwellers.

A particular Tunisian spice mix, known is tabil, is used in many dishes. Tabil is made of garlic, cayenne or red pepper, coriander and caraway seeds.

The ingredients are often mixed in a mortar and dried beneath the rays of the sun. Beef, veal and game are the most common dishes to be flavoured using tabil.

Appetizers

Harissa is a very common Tunisian appetizer, and will often be found as a part of every meal. The dish is a compote made of garlic, cumin, olive oil and dried chilli peppers.

Many restaurants serve it as a dip for bread, and it is often free and each restaurant or family has their own harissa recipe. One common variation of Harissa involves sprinkling tuna on top of the dish.

Brik is one of the most common appetizers served in Tunisia.These are essentially fried triangle pastries filled with olive oil, parley, egg and tuna and often served with lemon to be squeezed on top. This is often a favorite appetizer among tourists.

Tunisian couscous on the right (photo: Rusty Clark)

Main Courses

Famous the world over, couscous is a staple in Tunisian meals and is considered the country’s most famous meal.

Tunisian couscous is made of finer grains than many other forms of couscous and often harissa is added. It is commonly served with various meats, peppers, chick peas, potatoes and carrots. The most common meat is lamb, but some restaurants and dishes use chicken or fish.

The best couscous is served in private homes on Sunday.

Ojja is a spicy stew made of meat, olive oil, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, harissa and egg. It is often served in fast food restaurants, normally in a double serving meant for two people.

The most common type of ojja is made with small sausages, but variations include lamb, beef or seafood. In some places, vegetarian ojja can be ordered.

Baklava (photo: Nikki L)

Desserts

Fruit is heavily consumed in Tunisia as a dessert but there are a variety of honey, nut and pastry sweets that are also considered Tunisian traditional deserts.

Makroudh has a date filling. Balkawa, also known as Baklava in Greece, is filled with chopped nuts.

A New World of Tastes

Tunisia has a variety of new tastes to try out. If extremely lucky, a visitor will be invited to a private home to partake of a meal with a family.

If this happens, especially on a Sunday, it is considered a great honor and will certainly be a treat for the visitor’s taste buds.

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Puerto Vallarta

My first time in Mexico was as a kid. My parents took us on a family vacation to Club Med in Ixtapa, but I never left the resort.

Twenty five years later, as an adult, I can’t imagine going to Mexico and not taking the time to venture out and explore, yet the boom in all-inclusive resorts speaks to the popularity of the do-nothing vacation.

Travel Tip: In Mexico, as well as everywhere I travel, I always carry a credit card with a large limit and low fees in case of emergency. You can compare credit cards to use for travel emergencies online.

I arrived in Puerto Vallarta after 12 hours, and a string of three flights from Medellin. I was greeted by Christine and Drew Gilbert, their son Cole, and new daughter Stella.

There are few things I appreciate more than someone waiting to greet me at an airport, whether it’s friends or family, or even the occasional tour guide holding my name up on a sign.

All the normal stresses associated with arriving in a strange and foreign city disappear.

Fish tacos at the Sticky Fingers restaurant in the Puerto Vallarta marina

We hopped in the minivan Drew drove down from the US, and drove to the local Mega supermarket, which was immense. Along the way, we passed Walmart and Sam’s Club on the highway.

The US business influence was clear and present here, which is not something I’m use to living in Medellin.

After picking up groceries, we drove a bit further north on the highway, turned off onto a dirt road for a few blocks, and arrived at their house in Bucerias, a town thirty minutes north of Puerto Vallarta with far fewer beach resorts.

I knew from Drew’s Instagram photos that they commonly saw donkeys and horses in the streets around their house, but it was another thing to see it with my own eyes.

The house is surrounded by walls and metal gates, which act as both protection from the outside, as well as a way to keep Cole and the dogs inside.

Built by an expat, it was colorfully painted, with large, flower-filled trees winding their way up the surrounding walls.

Puerto Vallarta marina

I quickly learned my first priority was to give Cole attention, lots of it.

We played with his Matchbox cars, which reminded me of that phase in my own childhood, and threw things in his little kiddie pool (his idea, not mine).

The first evening was spent eating guacamole, drinking Pacifico beers, and catching up on their outdoor patio.

The next day, Christine and Drew had a blogging workshop to teach, and thus I had the day to myself.

I walked over to the beach in Bucerias for my first look at the Pacific Ocean since leaving Lima last August, and then asked a taxi to take me to the Malecon (boardwalk).

Twenty minutes later, he dropped me off at the entrance to the Marina, which has a little boardwalk, but it wasn’t the one I had in mind. It was already early afternoon, and I was getting hungry, so I began walking around.

The entire harbor is surrounded by restaurants, which would make for an excellent happy hour and nightlife scene, only it was a ghost town.

April is the start of the low season. Temperatures in Puerto Vallarta start to rise, and as Christine told me, many of the expats leave Mexico to spend the Summer in another home, especially the Canadians.

I was quickly convinced to grab lunch at Sticky Fingers by a Mexican host who spoke perfect English, and was disarmingly effective at his job of getting people in the door.

I ordered fish tacos, which were good, but kind of dry. Another day, I’d get my hands on far juicier ones in Old Vallarta. But it didn’t matter, not really.

I was in Mexico, sipping cervezas, overlooking a beautiful marina filled with yachts. This was the good life.

Old Puerto Vallarta

My next taxi took me all the way down to the Zona Romantica, an older area of Puerto Vallarta currently ranked the #1 Thing to Do on TripAdvisor.

There’s not much to see, per se, but it’s a terrific place to eat and drink. The Malecon runs along the beach, and there’s a large steel pier which offers excellent views of the coastline.

As you can tell from the photos, the beach isn’t very wide, but it’s certainly scenic, with the mountains acting as a backdrop to the hotels.

The center of Old Vallarta, with the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the background

From the pier, I began to casually walk the length of the Malecon, shopping for a more stylish hat to replace the $3 Yankees cap I bought in a pinch weeks earlier.

It was in the center of Old Vallarta that I saw a sign explaining why you always see churches in the main plazas of Latin pueblos and cities (at least those established by the Spanish).

The planners were following a decree by King Phillip II in 1573 which stated symbols of political and religious power should face a central square.

Statue along the Malecon (boardwalk)

The Malecon in Puerto Vallarta is clean and nicely designed. Statues and local art dot the way, as do dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops.

I imagined the nightlife to be exciting, given the size and location of the discotecas right along the boardwalk, overlooking the sea.

Add to that a mix of vacationing Mexicans, and foreigners from around the world, and you’re sure to see a lot of pretty people getting crazy off tequila shots and Margaritas every weekend.

Typical bar on the Malecon

With Mexico on daylight savings time, I didn’t have the patience or energy to wait for the sun to set.

I took another cab back to Bucerias to meet up with Christine and Drew. A few days later, we’d visit Old Vallarta for lunch at Mariscos Cisneros, a restaurant I can’t recommend highly enough.

Three soft crab tacos for 65 pesos ($5.39)

Instead of ordering individual entrees, we ordered a variety of appetizers to taste, including shrimp tostadas, soft crab tacos, shrimp empanadas, and mussels.

Everything was amazing, and cheap, which would become a recurring theme with the food I’d eat in Mexico.

Have you been to Puerto Vallarta? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.

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This post was written by Dave and brought to you by Lloyds TSB.

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Gangamaraya Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka

On my last day of visiting Colombo, Sri Lanka, I decided to check out the famous Gangamaraya Temple.

The temple is one of the most well-known Buddhist centers in the city, and attracts many locals as well as quite a few tourists each day.

The main part of the temple was built-in the 1800′s, but since then it has been accumulating more and more Buddhist religious relics and works of art.

There are two main sections of the temple, the main section (which I’ll feature here), and just a short distance away is the Simamalaka shrine which is situated within Beira Lake.

One of the many statues at Gangamaraya Temple

Unlike many other temples I’ve visited in Asia, this temple wasn’t overly ornate from the outside, and it wasn’t a high-rise towering golden structure.

It was rather the relics and the statues within and surrounding the complex that made it impressive.

Entrance costs 100 Sri Lankan Rupees, and once you’re inside you can begin to see the many sculptures, details, and decoration.

Rather than just being a Buddhist temple, Gangaramaya also includes a library, a learning center, and to me it felt very much like a historical scholarly museum.

Along with the main shrines, there were many artful exhibitions to browse through.

Inside the main sanctuary

The main sanctuary is filled with a huge statue of Buddha that is surrounded by a host of other statues and sculptures which are all neatly painted and brightly decorated.

Two huge elephant tusks stand on either side of the main statue.

Many Buddhist followers will first enter the sanctuary, possibly offer a gift, and then proceed outdoors where they can light candles and burn incense.

Outside in the courtyard

In the outdoor section there is a series of steps filled with statues of Buddha making various hand signals as well as stone stupas.

The scene really reminded me of Borobudur in Indonesia, and I couldn’t help but think that there had been a very similar influence in the design of both religious structures – Borobudur way outdating Gangamaraya.

Statue of Ganesha

In both design and decoration, Gangamaraya Temple has been influenced by Thai, Indian, Chinese, and local Sri Lankan styles.

One of the many shrines

There were many interesting and extravagant shrines like the one pictured above.

Gold, elephant tusks, statues, and fresh flowers were prevalent throughout the temple.

Chinese statues

Walking into the Chinese section of the Gangamaraya Temple felt like a complete switch to another location.

The Chinese designed wooden cabinets were filled with Chinese style Buddhist figures and elaborate sculptures.

A hungry elephant at Gangamaraya Temple

Just outside of the main sanctuary, surrounded by tables filled with burning candles and incense, and shaded by a huge tree, are a few elephants.

There’s also a giant fake elephant sculpture on the complex too, but I preferred the real ones!

After living or traveling extensively in Southeast Asia and seeing many temples, it’s sometimes not overly exciting to visit yet another temple.

But Gangaramaya Temple is a top attraction in Colombo, because it’s not just a temple, but an entire museum packed with history and art.

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Cabernet Sauvignon

After tackling my list of the top 10 things to do in Santiago, I turned my attention toward a tour and wine tasting at Concha y Toro, the largest producer of wines in Latin America.

While their global reach is noteworthy, it’s the fact that I use to drink one of their wines, Casillero del Diablo (translated as “Devil’s Locker”), regularly when I was living back in the States.

The name alone enticed me to purchase my first bottle, but it was the relatively low cost, and Cabernets and Merlots that kept me going back for more.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of the world’s greatest wine regions, including Bordeaux, Stellenbosch, and Mendoza.

But visiting Concha y Toro was more exciting, because it was my first visit to a winery whose wines I’d already been buying and consuming.

Concha y Toro

19th century summer residence of the Concha y Toro family

Vineyards at Concha y Toro

Fall colors

Tasting a 2011 Chardonnay by Casillero del Diablo

Barrels fill the Casillero del Diablo (Devil’s Locker)

The shadowy figure of a devil stands at the end of this wine cellar in Casillero del Diablo

Tasting four wines by Marques de Casa Concha, with cheese pairings

Checking the color of one of the wines against the white background

Obligatory pose at the entrance to Concha y Toro

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What You Need to Know

How Much:  $17 for the traditional tour which includes 1-2 tastings, or $36 for the Marques de Concha tour (which includes the traditional tour + a tasting of 4 premium wines lead by a sommelier).

I highly recommend the Marques de Concha tour, which lasts an additional 30 minutes, and allows you to sample much more wine.

Where to Book:  Reserve your spot online through the Concha y Toro site.

Directions:  The winery is easily accessible from downtown, taking just one hour by metro. Take the blue line, #4, to Las Mercedes Station, and use the Concha y Toro exit. Then hop the 73, 80, or 81 Metrobus, or a taxi, to the winery.

What to Bring:  Camera

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