by David McGuffin | Apr 19, 2016 | Destinations
Today, I joined my friends Moreno and Manuelle for another trek in the woods, this time in search of truffles. A truffle is the fruit of a subterranean fungus and is a species of the genus known as “tuber.” Many of the species are highly prized for gourmet cooking, especially those found in Italy and France. Truffles are a type of fungi that often develop around the roots of trees, but they are not associated with, or a part of, the tree.
We met Manuelle, and his two dogs, high up in the Sibillini Mountains to begin our hunt for truffles. Before we began, I was told that this was not prime truffle season, in fact the truffles we will find today would be only the remains from the winter season or the small beginning growth for the coming fall season. But, no worries, it was a beautiful day for a walk.
I grew up hunting quail in Florida. Hunting quail requires trained dogs to find the covey of birds, point out the birds and hold until the hunter flushes the covey into the air where they can be shot (or missed). The little truffle hunting dogs reminded me so much of the hunting style of my bird dogs. They would sniff the ground, obviously happy to be out and hunting, and when they found something of interest, they would point it out to the hunter by briskly wagging their tails and digging at the spot on the ground.
Soon, the dogs were covering all the territory to the left and right of our direction of travel. They responded very well to the hunter’s verbal commands. After about ten minutes, one dog showed signs of finding a truffle. Encouraged to dig by the hunter, she honed in and unearthed a developing truffle. It was at this point that the hunter pulled the dog off and carefully plucked the small tuber from the moist soil. The pungent biancino (little white) truffle was about the size of my little fingernail and when crushed, immediately produced the characteristic earthy and ripe smell only known to truffles.
We uncovered six developing truffles in about thirty minutes, then packed up the dogs a struck off for my next adventure.
by David McGuffin | Apr 18, 2016 | Destinations
2/100 Days in Europe
Le Marche region of Italy
I try to put in 5 miles a day (not counting walking on tours) for jogging/walking exercise. This seems almost like a chore at home, but when in Europe it gives me a chance to explore new areas from a different perspective. This morning was no different.
I left my agriturismo B&B and hiked up the hillside and took a walk on the ridge line leading to the nearby hilltown. I heard a cuckoo bird nearby. I think this was the bird, but not ever having seen one and only hearing them in Europe, I cannot guarantee this is a cuckoo bird.
Spring has arrived in central Italy (primavera) and everything is busting out in blooms, the fields are verdant green and like at home, pollen is everywhere. The hilltop village of Force (pronounced “for-che”) is home to about 1400 people and provided a picture perfect backdrop for my hike. This entire region is loaded with these picturesque hilltowns that seem to be painted ever so perfectly by a 19th century landscape artist.
Arriving back at the agriturismo, I walked around the property finding two burros, an inviting pool, rustic tables, a firepit and an orchard blooming in vivid white. Needless to say, I am liking the Le Marche region. There are no tourists to speak of… only real people working to provide genuine hospitality and information about their neck of the woods.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by David McGuffin | Apr 17, 2016 | Destinations
I arrived in Europe early this morning to begin 100+ days of leading tours and researching new destinations. I hope you’ll follow my adventures in Europe! I’ll be posting on Facebook, and blogging here on my website, everyday for at least the next 100 days and I hope you’ll follow along and participate in my adventures. You can get started by visiting and liking my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ExploringEurope/
We are packed with our tours from now until August. Many tour departures are already filled with the maximum number of travelers (12-18 depending on the tour). Sitting here in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, I can tell by the hurried rush of people, that travel is not slowing down in Europe. My flight last night was completely full from Atlanta to Amsterdam. I am heading down to central Italy to do a little research in a new region, Le Marche, and leading a small group of four on an adventure around Tuscany.
Local Ciauscolo Salami, the owner’s olives and olive oil and local vino rosso known as Piceno Superiore.
My flight from Amsterdam to Florence was uneventful and I even got in about an hour of sitting sleep! At the Florence airport, I picked up my Fiat 500, with a tiny trunk and no leg room, and drove five hours south through Tuscany and Umbria and ended up in the middle of nowhere at Agriturismo Ramusè.
I find that the “middle-of-nowhere” is often the best place to be. This is my view of the local hill town and the cat (il gatto) at 8:30 p.m. Ciao for today!
-David
by David McGuffin | Sep 26, 2015 | Destinations
I’ve struck off on my penultimate flight to Europe for the year. I’ve decided to put myself on some kind of regimented exercise plan to counteract all the fine dining I offer on my tours, ha!
So to get things started on the right foot I planned a layover in New York City for about 10 hours. Arriving at JFK Terminal 4, I stored my bag and took the subway to Central Park.
There, I put in about 7 miles on a jog through the park from bottom to top. Oh, I forgot to mention I purchased a Fitbit activity tracker watch to keep me on track and chart my progress. You can see by the route map below, I didn’t quite figure out the GPS tracking on this first test… there are some lapses in the tracking.
I hopped back on the subway and traveled all the way down to the Financial District and World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial site to put in another 3 miles of walking (at a McGuffin pace).
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Back on the subway at 7:00 pm and at JFK by 8:00 pm. I collected my bag, went back through security and headed to the Delta Sky Club where it pays to have perks from flying so much. They have showers, so… I showered and came out clean and refreshed.
My flight departed at 11:00 pm, ugh, so late. I slept for 4 hours, skipped the Delta breakfast and was on Irish soil by 11:00 am. Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Aug 26, 2015 | Destinations, news
“David McGuffin Explores” Video Series – Spotlight on Italy
Italy has it all: good wine, great food, generous hospitality, mountains and beaches, small towns and big cities. Join David on a virtual tour of one of his most popular destinations in a six-part video series, David McGuffin Explores. If you’ve ever wondered what traveling on an Exploring Europe trip is like, this is your chance to find out.
Catch these videos and more on David’s YouTube channel. You can subscribe to get updates when new videos are posted. A new video is released every week.
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Nearly all of David’s Italy tours go through Rome, a city steeped in 2,500 years of history. In this video, David takes you through the highlights of his two-day stay in Rome. Explore Ancient Rome on Day 1. Walk in the footsteps of Julius Caesar and visit the Colosseum and other ancient ruins. On Day 2, enjoy a visit to Vatican City. Marvel at St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. And of course, no Exploring Europe tour would be complete without a great dining experience to end the day. Head to Piazza Navona and one of David’s favorite restaurants.
Watch the video here.
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As David makes his way from Rome to the Cinque Terre, learn a little bit about train travel—a fast and convenient way to get around Italy. David shares tips for a stress-free travel experience and talks about the advantages of traveling by train.
Watch the video here.
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The Cinque Terre is made up of five villages spread along the Mediterranean coast. Hear some of David’s tips for exploring the region. Join him on a hike up to the monastery in Monterosso. Then hop a train to Vernazza and soak in the sun on the beach. See Manarola’s unique harbor and take a stroll through the vineyards. Finally, experience daily life in Riomaggiore and grab a relaxing dinner.
Watch the video here.
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Volterra is David’s favorite small town in all of Italy. Learn about the Etruscans on a tour with Annie, an American who fell in love with Tuscany, and see some of the oldest walls in the world. Volterra was once the only place where alabaster was available. Visit Georgio’s shop and watch him make an alabaster bowl. Afterwards, sit in on a wine tasting and end the evening with a mouth-watering meal at the Ristorante del Duca.
Watch the video here.
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Ride along with David as he takes the scenic route to Florence and stops at a vineyard in the Chianti region. Admire Florence from afar at San Miniato al Monte, a vantage point that is little-known to tourists. Then take a trip to the market to barter for a belt. Experience the city’s vast art collection with Paola, a local guide who brings a fresh perspective to Michelangelo’s famous statue of David and the works in the Uffizi Gallery. Finally, enjoy an evening stroll through the streets of Florence once all of the tourists have gone.
Watch the video here.
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Venice is unlike any other city in the world. The city blocks are separated by canals and the “subway” system is actually a network of boats. Tour Saint Mark’s Basilica with Roberta, a native Venetian, and learn about the city’s battle to stay afloat. Then head off the beaten path with David to get a feel for the lived-in part of Venice as he visits Sant’Elena. End your tour with a couple of David’s “must-do” attractions: take a ride in a gondola and spend a few hours at a café on Piazza San Marco.
Watch the video here.
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The town of Bellagio on Lake Como is the perfect place to enjoy this beautiful lake and the surrounding mountains. Here you can tour the neighboring villas, explore countless little shops, or stop at a wine cellar to sample products from the local vineyards.
Milan is the final destination on the Best of Italy tour. Take a tour of the city, stop at the Cathedral and still have plenty of time to explore the shopping district.
Watch the video here.
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Of course, no tour to Europe would be complete without sharing a few laughs with David!
Watch the video here.
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Join David on a Best of Italy tour and experience these great sights firsthand!
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by David McGuffin | Mar 30, 2015 | Destinations
Value added tax or VAT for short, is added to most purchases within the European Union. Each country has its own VAT ranging from 12% to 23%. A tourist is entitled to a refund of this VAT as long as the purchase has not been used and is exported from the European Union. Each year, millions of dollars of refundable sales taxes are left behind by non-EU residents departing the European Union.
Personally, collecting the refund is not worth the time and few dollars at stake. However, if you do extensive shopping, it will be worth your while to collect the VAT refund. This must be done at your last point of departure from the European Union.
Here’s how it works in Ireland
There seems to be at least two VAT refund schemes and Ireland.
FEXCO Tax Free Shopping
This is relatively new and is by far the easiest. When making a purchase the merchant will offer a FEXCO tax-free shopping card. It looks kind of like a credit card. At shops participating in this scheme, the VAT may be deducted from your purchase at the cash register, but you must pay for your purchase with your own credit card. Other shops may not deduct the VAT straightaway, but you’ll get it later. In either case, present the FEXCO card wherever you see the FEXCO placard displayed in the stores. This is very important, the FEXCO card must be registered and activated before you leave Ireland. Otherwise, all the “saved” VAT will be re-added to your credit card.
Traditional Tax-Free Shopping Scheme
When you purchase items at a retailer, ask for a tax receipt. You’ll fill out your name, passport information, and other details about your purchase. This tax receipt will show the amount of VAT you are due to have refunded.
AT THE AIRPORT
It’s likely you’ll have at least two types of VAT refunds to turn in. Luckily, both can be handled in advance. VAT refunds that require a receipt should be filled out and placed into the envelope before you arrive at the airport. All you have to do with this is drop the envelope at the proper company. If you are using the FEXCO Card, be sure your account is set up online before you arrive at the airport. There are two kiosks available and you will need to finalize your purchases and refund before you leave. There are times the lines for this are long. And if you get stuck behind someone who hasn’t set up an account, the wait can seem like forever. During busy times you will, thankfully, find FEXCO agents offering assistance to help the lines move along.
