At Los Roques, off Venezuela, you can have an island all to yourself Article appeared in the Ottawa Citizen When Spanish explorers arrived at Lake Maracaibo in what is now Venezuela, the natives were living in huts on stilts and using boats shaped like gondolas, which reminded the Spaniards of Venice. They promptly called the … Read more
Article appeared in the Toronto Star Dishes, glasses and menus fly past my head as I try to hold on to my corner spot at the El Rinconcillo bar in Seville, Spain. One man slices jamon, or ham with olympian dexterity, while another chops bread with equal precision. The waiter spins the glasses he has … Read more
Rideau Antiques is a great place to hunt for hidden treasures Article appeared in the Ottawa Citizen ‘Better not leave your bike in there, you’ll never find it again,” a man warns me as I dismount outside Rideau Antiques, in Eastern Ontario’s Rideau Lakes District. The store’s sign is almost completely obscured by rusted bric-a-brac, … Read more
LISBON — It was the beginning of Christmas week, and I was alone in Lisbon. I had come to the Portuguese capital to avoid looking at the same lights and living rooms as the year before. I hadn’t chosen Lisbon because of the weather, but the rain became an intrinsic part of the experience. The showers were warm, gentle, silky, ethereal — I found myself gliding through them, like a canoe on a rainy lake where sky, skin and water merge. By the time Christmas was over, I had memorized the Portuguese … Read more
Perfect portrait of the rural past Quaint pubs dot quiet backroads. A Big Mac is unknown in a country pub where one old farmer comments, “I don’t think my dog would like it.” BALLYDEHOB, IRELAND – The farmer, leaning hard on his worn cane, a tweed cap shadowing his brow and an oversized wool jacket … Read more
Holiday season in Honduras means fireworks and Fanta. Article appeared in the Toronto Star LA ENTRADA, HONDURAS – “Feliz Navidad!” cried the 5-year-old girl in the white party dress, cackling with delight each time a firecracker went off. “Buena, muchacha!” her parents praised her as they handed her another firecracker, beaming proudly. We arrived in … Read more
My friend and I hadn’t seen a person, restaurante, bar, fruit stand, farm, or even a tree for 100 km. No jeering-cheering locals packed 10 to a pick-up truck for company here. No weeds, no insects, only dust devils. The birds flew so high they were barely visible; they had no reason to stop. The … Read more
Diane likes to wander off the path, talk to people and soak up the flavours and colours. She has savoured the wine & culinary offerings of Ontario, British Columbia, California, Oregon, Arizona, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Argentina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and the U.S.
Along the way, she and her bike made it to Belize, Ireland, Patagonian Argentina & Honduras. With kayak,she floated through Killarney, Algonquin & Temagami National Parks, Baja California & Belize. With backpack - Gros Morne, Newfoundland, the Adirondacks and Montenegro.
Diane contributes regularly to Taste & Travel International and also has written for the Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Vacay.ca and others. She holds a Certificate in Wine from W.S.E.T.
