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Chasing Travel: A travel blog fuelled by Culture & Coffee

Food Travel

Eating with a Thai Family in Bangkok

One of the best ways to experience local culture and immerse yourself is by sharing time with the people and communities who live there. I try meeting new people, sometimes even sharing a meal with a local, when I travel. In Bangkok, Dan and I had dinner with a Thai family from the Kudijin community. We met them on our bike […]

Tasting Provence: A Local Food Tour in Nice

My latest move took me to the south of France where I was living and studying French in Aix-en-Provence. On my last weekend I took some time out to enjoy the Mediterranean life on the coast of Nice. I joined a small food tour with Viator which took us through Vieux Nice to seek out provençal specialities. I have partnered with Viator a few […]

Eating Like a Local in Nice

I’m not fond of touristy cities especially when they come with an expensive price tag. Like Rome, I was turned off by Nice for a few years as I couldn’t find the local side of this city. Especially when it came to food. Even when I returned last fall I met Anna, a 24-year-old girl […]

Guide to Finding Real Italian Gelato

There are more than 37,000 gelato shops in Italy. That’s a lot of gelato. The problem is, there is real gelato and then there is tourist gelato. With this many gelaterie in the squares and corners of Italy, it’s easy to get lured into buying the fake stuff. But not all gelato is made equal. There are gelato shops […]

Spending a Day at Gelato University

While living like a local in Bologna Italy I spent a lot of my time eating. After all, Emilia Romagna is the epicentre of Italian food in Italy. This is where bolognese tagliatelle, balsamic vinegar, parmesan, and even gelato originated from. The cheesiest place on earth also happens to be the sweetest. Bologna is home to Gelato University where […]

The Oldest Wine Bar in the World

The depth of history in the small medieval town of Ferrara is impressive. You can walk one of the oldest streets in Europe and then step into the oldest wine bar in the world. Enoteca Al Brindisi has been uncorking wine circa 1435. Their old wooden booths are surrounded by floor to ceiling shelves of dusty old wine […]

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  • Good morning Sunshine! There are some places in the World that are just meant for the soul. Kick up your feet and take a moment for yourself today. Sometimes it's the simplest things that can lift you up. #sunshineforthesoul #thereef28 #thereefresorts @thereef28 @thereefresorts #placestotravel #wheretotravelnext #visitplayadelcarmen #lifeslittleluxuries #travelmexico🇲🇽 #igersmexico #instaviews #makemoments #instatravel #playadelcarmenmexico #openmyworld #postcardfromaroundtheworld #travelgram #uniquehotels #sunscape #luxresorts #wander #beachesnresorts #bestplacestostay #wellnesswednesday #instagood #dreamplaces #wander #traveltheworld #travelblog #travelbug #travelersnotebook #travelmore
  • We're constantly traveling but views like this remind us to slow down and enjoy the moment. This incredible vista doesn't get better than this. @thereef28 offers the highest rooftop view in all of Playa del Carmen, Mexico making it easy to relax and be in the present. #placestotravel #wheretotravelnext #visitplayadelcarmen . . . . . . #lifeslittleluxuries #instaviews #instatravel #makemoments #allfuninclusive #instavacation #viewsfromabove #bestrooftop #thereefresorts #thereef28 #travelmexico #playadelcarmenmexico #expediapic #openmyworld #postcardfromaroundtheworld #travelgram #culturetrip #uniquehotels #sunscape #travelmexico🇲🇽 #luxresorts #wander #beachesnresorts #littlehappymoments #instagood #dreamplaces #wander
  • My new favourite thing. #infinitypools. #nofilter Spent the day on the rooftop @thecarmenplaya and was pleasantly surprised. A luxury hotel without the pretentiousness of luxury. The staff was incredibly warm and kind, and allowed us to enjoy their stunning property! Their Red Ruby is tastefully refreshing #thecarmenplaya #bestviewintheworld #instaviews #beautifuldestinations . . . . #igersmexico #travelmexico🇲🇽 #lifeslittleluxuries #instaviews #makemoments #allfuninclusive #instavacation #travelmexico #playadelcarmenmexico #expediapic #openmyworld #postcardfromaroundtheworld #travelgram #uniquehotels #sunscape #photooftheday #instagood
  • More #streetart in Comuna 13. Like most of the murals here, this one has a special meaning. All the artists seem to have a recurring theme throughout their community. Little reminders of positive, encouraging wisdom for residents passing by. Can you guess what this #graffitiart means? #key #birds #humanity #lifelessons #Medellin #Comuna13 #colombia #travelcolombiadeeply
  • Some of the #graffitiart walls in #Comuna13. In my last post I told you this neighborhood was once labeled the most dangerous in the world. For many years it was a no-go zone for tourists. The art is example of the incredible transformation happening here and the change from young people to transform bullet-riddled walls to storyful murals like this one. This mural depicts togetherness in the 3 elephants because elephants always stay together like family, a strong representation of this renewed neighbourhood.
  • Everyone and every media told us not to go to Colombia. So we went to Colombia. And Comuna 13. One of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world. Overrun by crime, violence, drugs, poverty, and rebels until very recently in the early 2000s. The murder rate was 170 per 100,000 inhabitants (it has a population of 134,000 people). In 2002 it saw 357 murders. It was a no-go zone. Even locals wouldn't venture off here. Today the comuna is filled with so much positivity, brightness, entrepreneurship, talent, and art. We met a young wife who runs her own cafe, a now tour guide who almost killed a man over drugs, a kid who learned to speak five languages all through mobile apps, and local artists transforming their community walls from bullet holes to beautiful graffiti art. These colourful rooftop views used to be a very dark place. In less than ten years it has become one of the safest, most inspiring community of people who have come together to transform where they live, welcome tourists and prove to the world that change is possible. The coolest part is that this transformation came mostly from young people - 65% of people who live here are under 39 years of age. I've never felt so much love and inspiration in one place. If you're facing hardship or adversity there is light at the end of a tunnel. Even a rainbow. #comuna13 #Medellin #colombia #bestviews #travelphotography #travelgram #instatravel #southamerica #wanderer #explorer #graffiti #GRAFFITIART #streetart #picoftheday #openmyworld #expediapic #gadventures #travelcolombiadeeply #thisismedellin #thisiscolombia #traveldeeper
  • One of my favourite places for coffee in El Poblado because the baristas are so damn nice! Pergamino means parchment which is the outer shell of the green bean before it's roasted. The guys behind the counter here also know their stuff which is another reason I like this cafe, ask them about coffee and they will hold up the line to tell you all about their single-origin Lomaverde, locally-sourced direct from their own family farm. It doesn't get more local than this. The coffee is a medium roast, sweet, smooth, and floral. Oh yes and their #latteart is pretty sweet. #coffeeculture #pergamino #specialtycafe @pergaminocafe #Medellin
  • If there is one place in the world to explore coffee it's Colombia. I had the most A-mazing day on an #airbnbexperience with @urbaniacafe at their coffee farm in Sabaneta, Medellin. We learned about coffee production at every step of the process - from seed right to cup. From hand picking our own cherries, to separating the beans, washing, drying and roasting. It's a lengthy, laborious process done in small batches to produce high quality specialty coffee (not the Starbucks kind). Next time you order coffee know that it took a lot to get to your cup. This cup of latte deliciousness is from La Paz, Medellin. One of the most inspiring things about @urbaniacafe is that they support farming communities that were once displaced from their land when the rebels took over; some were forced to grow cocaine crops in place of coffee. By buying La Paz beans Urbania is helping these farmers transition back to a more sustainable living . . . It's another reason why I don't buy #Starbucks or #McCafe. When you order a cup of specialty coffee it means you are supporting the work of small, local coffee producers, farmers, and roasters. #coffeeculture #fairtrade #Colombia #Medellin
  • My favourite day of the year. Can coffee be a comfort food? Happy #NationalCoffeeDay #karmacoffee