Nothing is more frustrating than writers block, so we’re offering up a little encouragement. For all you writing divas out there, we found a new workshop where participants can explore Italy while sharpening their writing skills in villages where great America writers found inspiration.
Taking place from May 27 until June 2, 2012, The Heart of Memoir Writing Workshop is a one of a kind escape that helps explorers combines a passion for travel with a talent for writing. Participants are given the opportunity to experience the historical, medieval hilltop of Santa Stefano di Sessanio in the Abruzzo region of Italy, where life moves a little slower. Wander through the local olive orchards, eat fresh pecorino cheese or walk along the cobble stone lanes and windy staircases.
Each day kicks off with morning writing sessions focusing on the creative nonfiction, writing excursuses and sharing of participants work. A reading list is provided and the workshop focuses on writing involving memoirs, travel and food. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop, though it is not required, but are urged to bring some form of writing materials.
The free afternoons provide ample time to read, rest and write, but just in case you are up for some adventure, there are many optional excursions, such as hiking to local castle ruins or seeing the art of artisanal cheese or pasta production by local chefs.
Travelers get the pleasure of enjoying six nights in a private room at the Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, an award-winning hotel in the area, and breakfast and dinner are included in the price of $2950.
This cost includes van transport from Rome and back, five days os workshop instruction and materials, six nights stay in the hotel, breakfast and dinner meals, and afternoon activities and trips. Not included is the airfare to and from Rome and lunch meals. A deposit of $500 is due by March 10, 2012, and the remainder of the fee is due on April 14.
This program only excepts up to eight participants and is sure to fill up fast! Visit the website for more information and to get your name on the list!
Whether you are an expert writer or simply someone with a story to tell, this program gives travelers a chance to experience the gorgeous italian countryside while learning to put thoughts into words.
I don’t know about all you divas, but I have a long list of destinations I simply have to visit someday. Fairly close to the top is South and Central America.
If any of you have the same dreams as me, then the critically acclaimed company Tara Tours, Inc. may have the perfect getaway for you.
In honor of the new year, the tour company has announced a new 6 day, 5 night program for 2012 to Costa Rica titled “Tortuguero Jungle Fever.”
The trip consists of of one night in San Jose at the Hotel Irazu upon arrival, 2 nights at the Mawamba Jungle Lodge in Tortuguero and another two nights at Irazu to accomodate optional tours.
For the pretty great steal of $556 per person, not including airfare and based on double occupancy, participants get daily breakfasts at Irazu, all meals at Mawamba Lodge and a slew of activities designed to help travelers explore the incredible rain forest of Costa Rica, including boat excursions, hiking, bird watching and canoe rides.
The cost also includes all transfers, tours, speaking guides and ground/boat transportation.
Tara Tours recommends using American or Taca airlines for your main transportation, with flights usually costing between $350 and $500.
If you’ve been itching to get lost in an exotic jungle, then don’t miss the opportunity to take part in this great trip. For more information and to sign yourself up, visit the company’s website.
Yes – you can eat Hello Kitty (if you dare)! You can play and sleep and even give birth in Hello Kitty China! The crowds are lining up – the food is selling out and well – you better be prepared to elbow your way into this playland. The consumer demand is literally overwhelming! Check out this bloggers personal experience January 12th!
Oregon’s Willamette Valley has long been exalted as one of the best appellations for Pinot Nior in the world. Wine enthusiasts and sommeliers alike hail the grapes produced in this region.
Now, the first luxury destination resort in this region is giving travelers a chance to experience an indulgent escape.
Available for redemption between Wednesday and Friday from February 1 to March 31, 2012, this package’s cost begin at $1,200, based on double occupancy. The deal includes a two-night retreat designated to celebrate the female winemakers of Willamette Valley through the pairing of tastings, insights into the science of producing wine, daily spa treatments and cuisine produced from fresh garden ingredients, all with the beautiful backdrop of one of Oregon’s best landscapes.
Featured spa treatments include two 60-minute services from the spa’s Pinot Therapy menu, such as the Divine Wine Facial, which uses grape seed extract to provide
antioxidants to the skin. Visitors are also given a complimentary variety of spa products, a bottle of the regions Pinot Noir and tasty snacks from the JORY restaurant.
Whether used for a girlfriend getaway, mother-daughter vacation, a romantic rendezvous or a solo trip, “The Grape Escape” gives travelers a taste of the valley’s history, as well as its pride and joy. Visit the website for the Allison Inn and Spa to claim this deal.
Wow, I can’t believe that it’s 2012! It was over 10 years ago when I was at Stanford and thinking up books and websites to create. It was in my Creativity and Business class that the idea of TangoDiva and FLY SOLO came to life.
In 2003, Patti and I went to Peru, where we drank pisco sours and thought about what a website for solo women travelers would look like. It was during those exciting moments that TangoDiva.com was born.
Talking about birth, 7 months ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. That’s why you haven’t seen much of me. Honestly, I had no idea how hard motherhood was going to be. Now, I have such an appreciation for mothers around the world.
My promise to you, Divas, is to get back on board. I still believe that through travel we become better women. And it is my goal to help foster travel – be it solo or with your mama.
Please let me know what you want to see at TangoDiva this year. When we started this network, our goal was always to give back and support our members. That has not changed. I’m just a bit busier with my baby diva. She already has a passport and has been to Mexico. I plan on showing her the world, so she can have a passionate appreciation for culture, countries, and others.
Keep in touch! You can reach me at teresa (at) tangodiva (dot) com.
It has long been a philosophy of mine that the more fortunate should do their best to give to those who have less. And in terms of travel, if you are going to spend the money to buy a plane ticket to a foreign land, why not spend some time helping those in need?
In recent years, the popularity of volunteer programs abroad has increased, with more and more people, whether they be celebrities or high school students, spending time in impoverished areas around the globe.
When I was 16, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, and spent two weeks volunteering in orphanages, hospitals and homeless shelters.
While I have immensely enjoyed every trip I have ever taken, this trip in particular was my favorite. Upon boarding my plane back to the states, I felt humbled, fortunate and satisfied that I had made a contribution to a community, no matter how small that contribution may be.
With the new year comes new plans, many of which I am sure center around travel. As we embark on 365 more days of adventure, I urge you to consider taking a volunteer trip. Here are five programs that send volunteers around the world which I personally recommend:
Volunteer Arica: This particular non-profit has had a presence in Singida, Tanzania, since 2002. Partnering with the locally based non-governmental organization (NGO), Health Action Promotion Association (HAPA), members of Volunteer Africa join forces with villagers on a range of construction programs, including health clinics, schools and homes. Volunteers receive lodging in camp conditions that mirror those of the community, often without electricity or running water. The program has the ability to last either two, four or seven weeks, with costs starting at $900 for the two week, $1980 for the four week and $2590 for the seven week, not including flights, vaccinations and a personal backpack kit. Since the volunteer site is within easy travel distance of destinations like Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and several safaris, program volunteers have the choice to explore Africa after their trip. Volunteer Africa is a program that puts volunteers in the shoes of locals, helping them to truly experience what it is to live in a third world country.
Global Volunteers: If you’re not sure exactly what kind of volunteer work you want to do, Global Volunteers is a great choice. They provide eight different programs year round, ranging from teaching English and repairing buildings to working with children and elders. They are stationed on almost every continent, including Europe, Asia, the Pacific Islands and South America. Anyone interested can submit an application on the programs website, along with a $350 deposit. The standard program fee is $2495 for one week, $2695 for two, and $2895 for three. If you are a returning volunteer or student, however, you get a $200 discount. As with Volunteer Africa, program volunteers are encouraged to explore the area in their free time.
Glimpse Magazine: For those divas who contribute to our site or any who may have a talent for writing, Glimpse Magazine could have the perfect program for you. They send writers to a variety of countries to participate in travel writing that attempts to reveal the conditions people are living in and generate public awareness. Every year come fall and spring, Glimpse chooses 10 contributors, who are writers, photographers and/or videographers responsible for creating a professional portfolio to be published on the Matador Network. The program lasts for at least 10 weeks, and contributors are given a $600 stipend, professional editorial support, and career training in travel writing and publication. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
Open Mind Projects: If you’ve ever wanted to travel to Asia, here is a great way to get your feet wet. Open Mind Projects currently have destinations in five Asian countries; Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma. Volunteers can work with eco tourism, teaching English, helping refugee children, working in orphanages and schools and more. The program prides itself on providing low cost volunteer experiences that make a impact on the local culture. Costs start at approximately $750, but vary depending on the program and length of stay you choose. All volunteers are welcome to partake in a volunteer training program and most meals are included in the set price.
Volunteer Latin America: Reaching out to the communities of Central and South America, this program also boasts a range of choices, but focuses on environmental efforts. They offer programs working in forest reserves, organic farming communities, sustainable community development, Toucan research, the highlands of Peru and more. Prices and inclusions vary for every program, ranging anywhere from $2 a day to $500 a month, with certain programs providing food and shelter and others leaving the options to the volunteers. They are particularly seeking volunteers who speak Spanish, seeing as they have a variety of English teaching programs and are always in need to translators. Volunteers are welcome to choose from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru.
Each year we have the opportunity to start fresh. This year, make a commitment to focus on others and do your part to make this world a better place.
Add a little fun and fashion flair to your e-World with fanciful tech SKIN covers by Curly Girl Design.
Diva designer and Curly Curl founder, Leigh Standley, shares her creative genius with an expanded and expressive line of whimsical decorative vinyls for all your favorite devices.
Dress up your laptop, iPad, iPhone and ignite your passion for life with every text, call and email communication.
Inspiring themes …so divine and affordable, you will want to order the entire collection.
Check out the Curly Girl Design Shop online for more fantastic finds. Or next time in Boston, visit the Curly Girl retail store, Marmalade, on Leonard Street in Belmont.
And, for a daily dose of happiness, be sure to follow the Curly Girl Blog.
About the only thing January is good for is breaking New Year’s rezzies, white sales and San Francisco’s three- day ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) Festival.
This is the 21th anniversary of this festival honoring said grape with three incredible days of wining, dining, tasting, and partying. You can buy tickets (but you’d better hurry because this is one popular event and you don’t want to be shut out) for each of the individual events or really celebrate and really zin-out by attending them all. And if you’re smart, you’ll be come a member, since the money you’ll save on member-priced tickets will more than pay for your membership. See below for even more benefits of joining-such as early entrance for the tasting- how lovely. How lovely.
Here’s the skippy on some of the main happenings:( Please note that this year some of the events are being held at a new venue, The Concourse at 8th and Brannon in SoMa, which means a much roomier space for eating drinking and interacting with your fave wine makers, chefs, and fellow zinnies.
Epicuria: Food & Zinfandel Pairings
Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 6 pm to 9 pm
The Concourse Exhibition Center –
Discover the Diversity – Take your palate on a culinary adventure as you discover the diversity of Zinfandel and its wide range of complementary flavor combinations. This informal dine-around expedition features pairings of 50 top Zinfandel wines with creations from master chefs. Mingle with winemakers and epicurean experts as you take a journey for the senses while sampling these regional offerings.
Flights – Forums of Flavor
Friday, January 27, 2012 from 10:30 am to 1 pm
The Concourse
8th & Brannan Street
San Francisco, California 94103
Explore the passion – Fuel your passion for Zinfandel as you experience discussions as diverse as the wine itself. At this exclusive seminar-style tasting you will discover themed flights of Zinfandels and interact with Zinfandel experts. Aimed at the true wine aficionado with an aptitude toward learning more, Flights offers in-depth insight into the Zinfandel varietal and provides the opportunity to experience the true character of the legend.
Winemakers Dinner – Viva Las Vegas
Friday, January 27, 2012 from 5 pm to 10 pm
The Concourse
8th & Brannan Street
San Francisco, California 94103
A benefit with taste – What happens here stays with you forever as you experience a Las Vegas style benefit with VIP taste. Dress to the nines and bring your lucky charm to this glamorous reception and dinner where you will enjoy private selections poured by premier winemaker hosts. Throw your chips in for our live and silent auction featuring rare and one-of-a-kind lifestyle lots, with proceeds benefitting ZAP programming, education and Heritage Projects.
2012 Zinfandel Festival
Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 2 pm to 5 pm
The Concourse
8th & Brannan Street
San Francisco, California 94103
From A to Zin – Savor the journey through the world’s largest single varietal tasting as you sample from hundreds of barrel samples, new releases and premier Zinfandels. Meet winemakers from each of the unique Zinfandel growing regions and explore the dimensions of this authentically American varietal at the most comprehensive showing of Zinfandel wineries in the world. This distinctively “A to Zin” experience lets your senses guide a spirited adventure through the many tastes of America’s Heritage Wine.
TICKETS and a complete schedule for all four Zinfandel Festival
events are available online at www.Zinfandel.org. Most events sell out
weeks before the Festival, so you are encouraged to purchase them
early.
Become a ZAP Member Today and Save!
Don’t miss these Member Benefits
• Early entrance at 1:00 pm (before the general public!) at Festival Grand Tasting
• Enjoy the exclusive members’ lounge with special seminars at Festival Grand Tasting
• Interactive website with Members’ Only offers and features
• Special pricing to ZAP’s Festival, events, tours, cruises, tastings, and partner events
• Exclusive invitations to tastings and events that encourage interaction with the winemakers
• Discounts and special offers at selected wineries.
Long recognized as a luxurious getaway and hotspot for the elite, the Côte d’Azur, also known as the French Riviera, is one of the most visited coastal regions in the world. With its bright blue waters and culturally abundant metropolises, this area is a must see for any beauty seeking traveler.
Luckily for all you Diva’s out there, travel agent, wholesaler and tour operator Carlo Roberts has created a unique and intriguing alternative to experiencing all the French Riviera has to offer. Roberts’ signature tour, The Blue Walk, consists of walking tours along the coast of the Mediterranean, with stops along the way that will provide travelers with the best tidbits of the region, from food and drink to art and music. (Check out our review on the flower markets of Nice – maybe make an extra stop along the way?)
For the more adventurous, self-assured folk, the self-guided tour costs $1150 a person and includes seven nights at a three star hotel in Nice, daily breakfast, a one-week train pass and half day walks along the coastline and towns of the Côte d’Azur.
And for those needing a little extra guidance, the guided tour, which runs $1295 a person, includes all the amenities of the self-guided tour, and boasts welcome and Bon Voyage dinners and a guide to walk along with you.
Got some extra vacation time coming up? Here’s what the schedule for 2012 looks like:
Guided & Self guided dates:
April 29 – May 6
May 6 – 13
May 13 – 20
September 16 – 23 (Italy extension available for guided tour)
September 23 – 30
Additional self-guided dates:
September 9 – 16
Make your walking tour a special occasion by choosing the May 6th tour to celebrate Mother’s Day, or the May 13 date to experience the Cannes Film Festival on May 16.
Roberts’ agency, Cruise, Tour, Travel!, also hosts an art walk along the French Riviera, an Italy Walk, and a Riviera by Rail for anyone whose feet tend to get a little tired. Visit their website at cruisetourtravel.com to book your next Mediterranean escape. And don’t forget your walking shoes!
Orange sandy crags under a never ending bright blue sky in the middle of a dessert; for anyone who has visited the great state of Arizona, images like this are sure to stir up some unforgettable travels.
And now, for all those who’ve traipsed around the desert at one time or another, Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona wants to hear all about your best visit.
Today through Thursday, January 19, the hotel is hosting a contest where people can submit stories of their most memorable Valley Ho experiences. After the deadline comes and goes, the company will pick their favorite and the chosen one will be awarded a special baseball spring training package. Winners are given the privilege of staying at Valley Ho for two nights, which includes breakfast, and are also given complementary airport sedan service, two tickets to a Giants game and more.
Anyone interested can post their tale to the Hotel Valley Ho’s Facebook page, or email it to Kristin. Winners will be announced Friday, January 20 on the hotel website and Facebook.
For more details on the hotel, the contest and all that this deal entails, visit http://www.hotelvalleyho.com. Best of luck to all you Arizona loving divas!
is one of the most visited coastal regions in the world. With its bright blue waters and culturally abundant metropolises, this area is a must see for any beauty seeking traveler.
