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Traveling to Peru: A Majestic Adventure

3/21/2016

Written by Amanda Mejia

Travel Peru and savour the delicious seafood dishes and explore majestic cities when you embark on this tour of a lifetime. Thinking of booking your flight but still need convincing? Take a look at our personal account of traveling the historical land of Peru.

Our journey has brought us to the beautiful Peru. Peru can be described in one word: mystical. Ask anyone who visits; there is an energy that emulates out of the ground and walls. In fact, stories float around about people who have experience some eerie things. The battery of phones, cameras and laptops of everyone in our group would drain suddenly in certain areas. It is said that this is a result of a lot of magnetic activity under the ground in Peru. This 8-day tour of Peru is an excellent adventure that will have you experiencing new dishes, enjoying views like no other, and exploring ancient civilizations.
Top 3 Things to Do in Peru:

Visit the Nazca Lines. Remember when I said this land is eerie? Well, here is a great example. These are lines in the earth that create unusual shapes and creatures. These lines have an interesting history and are said to be created by the Incas, however many legends exist about their origin. As of today, they remain intact.
Explore Cuzco, Peru. Take some time to get to know the city of Cuzco. Be sure to shop the markets and bring home authentic, handmade alpaca scarfs. Added bonus? At night, the local kids gather to play volleyball. Join a game but beware, they are really good!
Visit the Chinchero District. Known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this place gives you a sense of calm and serenity. It is as surreal as Machu Picchu (which is another must!) It is not crowded with tourist and it features a breathtaking view of enormous mountains. All things come together to make this a truly inspiring day trip.

3 Things You Must Eat in Peru:

Ceviche. This is a classic dish in many South American cultures but it is well known that Peru makes it the best. (I'm Colombian so don't tell anyone I said that!) It is a shrimp & fish cocktail made with lime and spices. It's a personal fav!
Arroz Con Mariscos. More seafood! Rice and shrimp cooked to perfection.
Pisco Sour. Pair this with every meal, but don't ask what's in it. Just know it's delicious. During this 8-day tour you’ll have the opportunity to visit the town of Pisco, tour a pisco factory, and sample the unique flavour of the famous Pisco sour.

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Traveling to Spain: An Unforgettable Adventure.

3/21/2016

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Written by Amanda Mejia

Travel Spain and savour the delicious food and wine the land has to offer when you embark on this tour of a lifetime. Thinking of booking your flight but still need convincing? Take a look at our personal account of traveling the breathtaking land of Spain.

I have had the opportunity to travel to a few countries but I have yet to love a country as much as I loved Spain. If I had the chance, I would go back over and over again. Over the course of one week, I visited Madrid and Barcelona. Here's why Spain is so epic:

3 Things To Do in Barcelona, Spain.

1. Take a Train to Sitges.

This city is a few kilometers from
Barcelona and is accessible by a short (and cheap!) train ride. I suggest staying the night if you can as it has a great nightlife. If you cannot stay the night, the beaches during the day are enough to leave you in awe; white sandy beaches with clear blue waves. For dinner, walk the small strip of restaurants and choose one of the charming restaurants. TIP: If they bring you olives, they will charge you 4 Euros for it. Politely say no if you do not what to pay this. If you stay the night, TRY THIS: buy fresh bread and salami for breakfast and spend the morning sitting on the rocks and enjoying the view as the waves crash around you. I did this with my significant other and it is, till this day, my favourite moment. Ever.

2. Visit Park Güell. Also known as the Gaudi Gardens, this is a MUST DO in Barcelona. Imagine you could step into the whimsical world of Alice and Wonderland. How cool would that be? Well, imagine no more because this park is just as trippy. The park is a piece of art filled with funky shapes and colours. It's worth it!

3. Wine & Olive Tastings. Spain is home to some of the finest wines. This 6 Day tour will have you sipping award-winning wines, tasting locally-produced olive oil, and travelling 13th century villages!

The City of Sitges, near Barcelona.
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Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain.
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Paella!
Source: Amanda Mejia

3 Things to Eat in Spain:

Paella! If you haven’t heard of this dish you must be living under a clam shell (get it!) Paella is a famous Spaniard dish consisting of shrimp, calamari, mussels and rice. It is cooked in a delicious broth and a few spices so the rice is left a little wet.
Sangria. I know I don’t have to remind you to taste as many versions of Sangria as you can! For those who don’t know, Sangria is a wine cocktail that adds juices and a variety of fruit to create a cup of delightfulness. There are so many delicious versions of Sangria, so experiment.
Tapas. This is staple in Spain and has been popularized around the world. Tapas are not one specific dish but rather a concept. Ever been to a restaurant and said, “I want to try everything!” Well, tapas are your answer to that. It is an experience where you order many different dishes and they come in sample sizes so you get to taste and array of gourmet flavours.

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ontario brave new wines@stratus

3/14/2016

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Visited Stratus Vineyards on Saturday March 5th with a group of IWEG Drinks Academy participants in the Ontario's Brave New Wine series of Special Courses.
Stratus is a relatively new winery in Niagara-on-the Lake founded in 2005 by David Feldberg. The Stratus team is executing the winery vision to produce wines of outstanding quality right in their backyard in Niagara.
It is all about sustainability and high quality. They produce the best possible wine ,only limited quantities from grapes grown on their 62-acre estate. There are 17 varieties of grapes in their vineyard ,7 white and 10 red.
They provide the range they need to make distinctive "assemblage" wines !
We have tasted 3 whites , 3 reds and one Special Select Late Harvest Cabernet.
I have find of exceptional quality heir flagship white ,fruity and crispy, 2013 Stratus Chardonnay ( Barrel Sample) Harvested October 2-3,2013, 307 days in French oak, 13.4% Alcohol and their flagship red 2012 Stratus Red Bordeaux style ( Assemblage: 29%Cabernet Sauvignon,26% Cabernet Franc,26% Merlot,13% Petit Verdot,3% Malbec, 3% Tannat) 622 days in French oak, 13.8% alcohol as well as the 2013 Stratus Special Select Late Harvest Cabernet paired with dark chocolate from a local producer.
Visit Wine Region Rentals website and inquire about a customized tour to Stratus Winery