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Rwanda’s largest lake, Lake Kivu, is a stunning body of water shared with nearby Congo. The lake is a prime spot for water sports and boating, as well as bird watching and shopping. The villages and towns that sit on its shores have been largely preserved in time – residents carrying bushels of bananas on their heads to sell at the market. Here you can sit on the lake’s sparkling shores and soak-in the beauty and tranquility that perfume the air.

Dakovo Cathedral Croatia - 1 Đakovo Cathedral in Đakovo, Croatia was built in 1866. The Viennese architects imagined a tall red cathedral, one of simplicty. But, enter once, and your mouth will drop as you look around at its very non-simple interior. Fresco paintings depicting scenes from the Old Testament and the New Testament scenes from the life of St Peter in the chancel were executed by the Roman painters (of German origin) Alexander Maximillian and Lodovico Seitz. Two frescoes were painted by Achille Ansiglioni. Normally, when in Europe, you can come across so may cathedrals and churches, that you get a bit tired – no matter the structure’s magnificence. Đakovo Cathedral is one not miss. You can spend hours looking at each detail of art that makes it one of the most incredible sights in Slavonia.

Giuseppe Giusti started making balsamic vinegar four centuries ago. Not much has changed since 1605, except the fact that Mr. Giusti is no longer personally presiding over every batch. Outside of Modena, you will find the Giuseppe Giusti vinegar house and museum, which is a testament to the art of balsamic vinegar. Visitors can take a guided tour and sample their magical varieties in the beautiful on-site shop. The company’s Acetaia, as it’s called, is the attic of the house where the vinegars are made and stored. As a visitor, you can view how each batch is made from grape must and transferred, over time, from barrel to barrel. The barrels are all stained black from the aging vinegar and covered in lace – leaving an opening for periodic tasting. As the centuries have past, each barrel has been added to with more and more layers of wood to keep the original fragments in tact to enrich flavor and quality. To this day, you can taste and purchase balsamic vinegar which has traces of the very first batch ever made in the barrels. Each collection of vinegar from Giuseppe Giusti has been awarded medals of silver, bronze and gold – and earned a reputation worldwide for their exceptional quality. My personal favorites are the fig infused balsamic and the Reserve 100. This experience is quintessentially Modena and quintessentially Emilia-Romagna. It can’t be missed.

Dubrovnik’s many hotels come in all shapes and sizes, and for those looking for an intimate and luxuriously cozy stay – we recommend St. Joseph’s . A newer property in a very old building, the owners of the hotel purchased and completely gutted (according to city regulations to preserve its integrity) the building. They took it down to the bricks that were hidden under centuries of use. Lovingly, they worked with an architect and Croatian interior designer to add modern touches which will please even the most sophisticated travelers. What evolved from the project was a guest house of sorts, one where you can tuck yourself away, yet still be in the heart of it all. Behind the imposing door off a quiet side street in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, St. Joseph’s opens up to a quaint, whitewashed interior outfitted with crystal chandeliers, a staircase lined with white carpet and a small desk acting as both the check-in point and the concierge. Arriving to the hotel is fairly easy as the hotel will send someone to meet you at one of the town’s many gates and carry your luggage through the limestone and cobblestone streets. Once checked-in, questions pertaining to your in-room breakfast are asked and you are led to your suite. The hotel offers 6 suites, all outfitted with air conditioning, flat screen televisions, large and comfortable beds, a small kitchenette with mini refrigerator and seating area. Many have views over town and make you feel as if you’ve stumbled your way into a friend’s very chic townhouse for a holiday. The WiFi works exceptionally well and the family staff are present to help make your stay enjoyable. One of my favorite parts of the hotel is the continental breakfast. It’s light and can be ordered to your liking – pastries, juice, the St. Joseph’s green smoothy, yogurt, etc. are all available. You can select your time of service the night before and breakfast is delivered in your room (there is no restaurant on site). This is a special touch which allows you to stay in bed a little longer. Overall, the hotel is wonderful and a perfect pick for those wanting to stay under the radar. St. Joseph’s makes your time in Dubrovnik personal and pleasurable, above all else.

The Nyungwe Forest Lodge , which lies on the edge of the pristine Nyungwe National Forest in Rwanda, is a refuge for peace and relaxation when traveling to see the area’s chimpanzee population. The glass, metal and wood structures, built throughout a picturesque tea plantation, call you at first sight to set-up shop here and unwind in utter desolation. But, desolation does not mean discomfort. The luxuriously appointed private bungalows, serene infinity pool and expertly prepared cuisine are enough to lull you into a comatose state of being, with a crystal clear mind free to enjoy all of nature’s splendors that surround you. Located in Gisakura, a spec of a town in Rwanda’s southwestern region, the Nyungwe Forest Lodge was built to offer discerning travelers an outpost to base themselves while taking-in the beauty and treasures of the forest. Gentle hills roll calmly throughout the property and villagers, dressed in colorful native prints, can be seen in the mornings through the mist, plucking chartreuse-colored tea leaves from bushes and placing them, one by one, in straw baskets at their back. The 22 private bungalows at Nyungwe Forest Lodge, including two presidential suites with en-suite jacuzzis, blend harmoniously with the forest around them – their black wood exteriors referencing the color of the bark found on trees in the area. Inside, rooms have been decorated to a tee using local and international pieces found by the hotel’s designers. Plush beds, dressed in white, offer a refuge after a long day’s trek. Creature comforts like Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions with a plethora of cable channels, mini bar, tea and coffee, spacious bathrooms and private decks with vistas over the forest make the bungalow feel like a little slice of heaven. Dining at the Nyungwe Forest Lodge is an experience in itself. Inside the lodge’s main quarters at the top of a hill, you will find an open and light space punctuated with stunning furniture and local crafts – speaking loudly to any design enthusiast in its realm. A roaring fireplace is at the center of the room and warms the space when mornings and evenings dip in temperature. A full range of local and international dishes are available in the dining room for all meals offered. Each meal prepared is as beautiful as it is delicious – details like an extensive wine list and a property-grown tea and coffee experience elevate the stay dramatically. Peering through the glass, whether in the property’s main lodge or in your own quiet bungalow, it’s easy to see why this region of Rwanda is one of Africa’s most treasured and protected. In our busy lives, it is essential to find a place to quiet down, realign and reset yourself. For me, the Nyungwe Forest Lodge is the perfect place to do this. The environment that surrounds you paired with the commitment of the hotel to offer a sustainable, luxurious and eco-friendly stay makes for the perfect travel experience.

On my recent trip to Rwanda, knowing that one of the main draws of visiting the small African nation was the endangered Mountain gorillas, I was met with an unexpected shift in my perception of myself and of the world around me. Spending a priceless hour with a family of 18, known as the Kwitonda family, I literally had a spiritual “come to Jesus” moment. As I sat in their midst, staring into the eyes of the male Silverback and other members of the group, I couldn’t help but feel so deeply connected to them. I had never met gorillas in the wild and didn’t know what to expect, but, in an instant, I felt as if I was looking at members of my own family. Mothers, cousins, toddlers and babies sat and played together, living and working in a harmonious system that was created through evolution, over millions of years. There are just over 800 gorillas left in the wild, living amongst the shrouds of green bamboo in the stunning Volcanoes National Park that straddles Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And, these 800 creatures have been hunted and poached by people desperate to feed their families. $50 for a gorilla hand, $2000 for a baby gorilla – the price of a life, or many lives, that have been taken in recent history. There hasn’t been an instance of poaching since 2004 in Rwanda, as the gorillas are now fiercely protected by the government and through independent groups like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The same cannot be said for the families of gorillas who live in areas of the park that lie in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. But, a gorilla renaissance is underway. I hiked for nearly ninety minutes from the park’s head offices at the base of Virunga volcano. I followed my guide, the porters who carried my gear and the trekkers who make it their business to keep tabs on the gorilla families and their whereabouts. The terrain was rough, exhausting, but breathtakingly beautiful. As I dodged stinging nettles, fire ants and branches that tried desperately to stand in my way as I ascended the steep hill, beads of sweat rolled off my forehead. My imagination ran wild with images from Hollywood films. Would it be like the Sigourney Weaver movie, “Gorillas in the Mist”? How close would I actually get? Would they charge at me and, if so, what would I do? As I reached a clearing and caught my breath, my guide made it known that we were about to come upon the Kwitonda family. Walking sticks, backpacks and water bottles left behind, I made the final move into an area where the gorillas had been seen the night before. A few steps in and, suddenly, I was surrounded. Through the trees, lying in front of me, sleeping in the distance – 18 gorillas were in sight. My group of fellow tourists went instantly silent, in awe of what we were seeing. As I moved in, I was instructed to slowly make my way to whatever vantage point I felt drawn to. I did. I chose a small clearing where a mother was lying on her back and nursing her baby. Some gorillas were chewing on bamboo, some of the elders of the family slept and most of the “children” played. Two toddlers, three years old in age, were rolling through the grass. One of them found me interesting and made his way over to gently touch my leg, daring me to react. I wanted to hug him. Rwanda allows each group of visitors, which is limited to eight people per group, to spend no more than one hour with a family of gorillas. This is in effort to keep germs and disease from spreading into their communities. Gorillas and humans share roughly 98% of their DNA, which make them very susceptible to human illnesses. My hour was short, but I was present for each and every minute. I absorbed the beauty, the charisma, the playfulness and the majesty. When my guide signaled that it was time to go, I stood up from the ground and accidentally made eye contact with one of the mothers who was carrying an infant in her arms. She stared right through me, directly into my eyes. Her baby was wrapped in her arms and she acknowledged my presence with her stare as she moved to a new sleeping spot. I realized, immediately, that it’s all so simple. Life is simple, this is what matters – we complicate it, pollute it. As I descended the volcano I took with me this experience, the grace and beauty of the Kwitonda family. I further understood the lesson that staying connected to my environment and understanding my role in it, will only help me be a better human being and resident of our planet. Rwanda and its families of gorillas helped me understand that.

In the Slavonia region of Croatia, one of my favorite things to do is to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning at one of the incredible food markets. My favorite is the one in the town of Osijek. With what seems like hundreds of stalls, vendors and farmers from across the region come to sell their products. Here, you can pick-up everything from wild raspberries, bee pollen, royal jelly, carrots, turnips, walnut and honey rolls, dessert, fresh meat from the farm and more. Shopping for just an hour here doesn’t do it justice – you need three. The simplicity of the market and the raw beauty of the products offered is enough to make you understand why #CroatiaFullOfLife is the country’s well-selected slogan!

Belje Vina is one of the most recognized and largest wine producers in Croatia. With acres and acres of vast vineyards in Slavonia, Belje produces everything from Pinot Noir to the local favorite, Graševina. But, they don’t stop there – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and another local favorite, Frankish, are all offered. The winery has both a modern, glassy and metal production facility, as well as an ancient cellar (from 1526), located a stone’s throw from the vineyard. As a guest, you must see both. I took a tour on a recent fall day, wearing a sweater with local Slavonian print weaved into it – blue and red for Croatia, of course. On that perfectly crisp day, I was able to walk down Belje’s road through their vineyard, watching the day’s last sun rays warm the grapes. Most had been picked by then, but some late bloomers lingered on the vine. I was treated to a sampling of various wines from Belje, each more delicious than the next. I particularly liked their “Goldberg Frankovka”. As I sipped my glass in the vineyard, I realized that Croatia, and Slavonia in particular, really does love up to their motto – “Croatia Full of Life”. Why? Because of the diversity of experiences that can be had under one roof (per se). Belje certainly made my afternoon memorable.

Primate Safaris is the leading tour operator in Rwanda. A full-service operation that will coordinate every detail of your trip, from flights to itineraries – this company is positioned to design an experience that will spark memories that last a lifetime. On my recent trip to Rwanda, I chose Primate Safaris to assist in conceptualizing an itinerary that would allow me the ability to see the country in its entirety, without missing a beat. At the beginning of the trip, in the pre-planning stages, Primate Safaris made contact with me to guide me through the process of choosing my ideal route throughout Rwanda. Would I start in Kigali? Would I go north to the gorillas or south to the Chimpanzees? They helped me decide which options would prove best for my trip’s objectives. The company provides drivers and guides who escort you in large, off-road vehicles (usually Toyota Land Cruisers or similar). The vehicles are well equipped for Rwanda’s terrain and the guides are extremely knowledgeable about the land, its history and the hidden gems that you won’t find in guidebooks. My guide, Sula, took the time to stop and answer every burning question. What species of monkey just ran in front of us on the road? Where is Rwanda’s best coffee grown? How has the country harnessed the land for farming the beautiful terraced fields? Sula knew all the answers. Primate Safaris outfits vehicles with bottled water, fruit and whatever else might be needed for the journey between point A and point B. Each itinerary is custom and flexible, so you have the ability to change your route if something peeks your interest along the way. I couldn’t have been more impressed or filled with gratitude for their attention to detail and the knowledge that, inevitably, made all the difference in my Rwandan experience.

Bologna is the kind of city that enchants you from your first step into its stunning Piazza Maggiore. Though often overlooked for nearby fashion capital Milan to the north, or the captivating Tuscan jewel of Florence to the south, Bologna is more than worth getting to know. Standing in the center of the piazza you can peer over centuries of history and beauty through sites like the Neptune Fountain, the Basilica of San Petronio or the leaning Asinelli Tower. The city’s arched colonnades and hidden canals reflect its neighbor to the northeast, Venice. But, Bologna has a charm of its own that is comparable to nothing else. It must be seen firsthand to understand that special charm. Aside from the history and physical beauty of the city, Bologna is a culinary capital, famous the world over for its pasta – tortellini, tagliatelle and lasagne. Here you can indulge in rich Bolognese sauce with beef and tomatoes, ham from nearby Parma, sharp parmigiano-reggianao or ancient balsamic vinegars from Modena. Dining with friends and family is a deep-rooted part of the culture in Bologna, and visitors aren’t spared the tradition. Throughout each season its not unlikely that you will run into food festivals or restaurants putting on some sort of special menu inspired by local produce and ingredients. If you come to Bologna with food in mind, I suggest heading straight for the markets. Take a moment to rest at your beautiful hotel; I love the I Portici Hotel Bologna , and walk over to one of the best green markets the city has to offer, Mercato delle’erbe. After taking-in the fresh greens, fruit and vegetables that arrive here daily, I would stop by Drogheria Gilberto for their fresh tortellini (they even have a chocolate variety). These are merely suggestions, as most any market you stumble into will speak to your inner Julia Child. Medieval Bologna will leave you happier and fatter than when you arrived – the city is nicknamed “The Fat” by Italians. But, this is okay. You shouldn’t stop yourself from indulging in what the city is known for – food, art, architecture and music. In 2000 Bologna was named Europe’s culture capital by UNESCO, and they made no mistake as the city rises to the occasion. If you’re in Italy, even if you’re outside of the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna should be added to your itinerary. Whether a few days or a week, you might leave dumbfounded at the fact that you’re just discovering it now.

The Ritz Carlton New Orleans - 1 The Ritz Carlton’s Davenport Lounge in New Orleans offers the city’s best and most refined jazz experience. Named after the headline entertainer, Jeremy Davenport, the lounge is a lively and fun place to sip handcrafted cocktails, munch on a selection of delicious snacks and listen to the music that has made this town so famous. Located on the third floor of the hotel, guests are expected to show-up looking their best – evening cocktail attire preferred. Sitting at one of the tables, you can indulge in goodies like: homemade flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, gumbo or, my favorite, truffled french fries. If you’re looking to pair your snacks with a specialty cocktail, I recommend the Roasted Pecan Manhattan – a delicious and very gentlemanly drink. The music here is excellent, and it gets the crowd going. Every brass instrument that would ever be in your fantasy of what the New Orleans jazz scene could offer, is here. I suggest making a reservation the next time you’re in town (evenings fill-up quickly), and spoiling yourself at one of the city’s best. Photos courtesy of the Ritz Carlton New Orleans

Near the city of Požega, Croatia, a wonderland of nature, the Paupuk Nature Park , sits sandwiched between mountains waiting to be discovered by those who have a bent for extreme beauty and peace. The mountain, Papuk, is at the center of the park and unfolds into waterfalls, valleys, hills and forests that have been preserved for both locals and visitors alike to enjoy throughout the year. This park is a national treasure for Croatia, and it’s obvious why. Meandering through the cut paths of woods and gazing through the walnut trees and into small lakes, ponds and cascading waterfalls, you can’t help but be mesmerized by what’s in front of you. This newly dubbed “Geopark” (an area protected by the way of geological heritage), offers visitors insight into the local flora and fauna which makes the region unique. Here you’ll see various types of plant and tree species, as well as wildlife – with an emphasis on birds and fox. Spending an afternoon here is pure bliss.