Rabelo boat which was once use for shipping Port from where it was grown and made upriver in the Alto Douro to Porto

5 Things You Should Know About Port Wine But Probably Don‘t, Including Why You Don’t Want To Know The Bishop Of Norwich – Reprise

There are a plethora of places to see in Porto − the city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site − but one absolute must for wine aficionados is to spend a couple of hours across the river Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia visiting a Port house and tasting the wines. Follow me on such a journey . . . saude!

Room 21 of Balcony House in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: the long wooden beam was used as a sort of gnomon for astronomically ascertaining the solstice and equinox

How The Native American Ancestral Puebloans Kept Track Of Time – Reprise

If you’ve been lucky enough to travel to the “four corners” area of the southwestern United States (where U.S. states Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico “meet”), then you may have seen or even visited some of the cliff dwellings built by the ancient natives formerly known as Anasazi. Read on to find out what we know about how this ancient tribe of people now known as the Ancestral Puebloans kept time and why.

The Shinola Hotel In Detroit: Everything For The Watch Aficionado

The latest offering from Shinola is a gorgeous hotel planted smack in the center of Detroit: the long-awaited and brutally beautiful Shinola Hotel. Elizabeth Doerr reports on a night spent there.

El Castillo at Chichen Itza

The World’s Biggest Man-Made Calendar: El Castillo At Chichén Itzá – Reprise

Contemplating the 30-meter-high ancient pyramid at Mayan archaeological site Chichén Itzá in the blazing Yucatán sunlight, Elizabeth Doerr was awestruck by the structure’s complexity. Not just because of the pure historical ramifications of the pyramid and temple known as El Castillo, but also because of its timekeeping capabilities. Yes, you read that right: timekeeping capabilities!

Aurora Borealis seen in Germany, note how bright the scenery looks for a dark night

The How, What, When, Where And Why Of Seeing The Aurora Borealis, AKA Northern Lights (Archive)

Ian Skellern and his wife serendipitously chanced upon “seeing” the aurora borealis while visiting Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the excitement of that led to months of research. And that research led to spending a few days in the Arctic Circle in the north of Sweden. Here is what I’ve learned about the northern lights so far, some of it firsthand.

Egyptian monkey and the ancient spirit in the crypt portion of Edinburgh’s Millennium Clock Tower (photo courtesy Dun Deagh/Wikimedia)

Absolutely Crazy Millennium Clock Tower In Edinburgh Commemorating 1,000 Years Of Rich History (With Video)

Elizabeth Doerr has a personal relationship with Scotland. And with Edinburgh in particular. But she hadn’t visited the fabulous National Museum of Scotland there before. Finally ducking in on a recent trip, she was blown away by the incredible Millennium Clock Tower. Here she explores the tower’s history, meaning, and symbolism.

Guests enjoying the garden at Grovely House

Luxurious Wining, Dining, And Sleeping — Glamping, Anyone? — In Southeast Queensland, Australia

Queensland is a mecca for tourists from around the world. The Great Barrier Reef and its islands, the Gold Coast, northern rainforests, endless beaches, and outback all draw millions of visitors each year. Queensland also makes wine, and although production is small there are some tasty bottles and luxurious places to stay, including a round of glamping like you’ve never seen.

The 365 stairs, on for each day of the year, at El Castillo, Chichen Itza

World’s Biggest Man-Made Calendar: El Castillo At Chichén Itzá (Archive)

Contemplating the ancient pyramid at Mayan archeological site Chichén Itzá in the blazing Yucatán sunlight, Elizabeth Doerr was awestruck by the structure’s complexity. Chichén Itzá’s most famous structure was built to be the world’s largest calendar . . . at a time when calendars didn’t even exist!

Parting shot: Boucheron bespoke tiger cufflink and Philippe Dufour Simplicity

GaryG Goes To Paris To Pick Up Custom Boucheron Cufflinks Or How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Archive)

Ah, Paris! City of Lights. For the watch collector, it’s a great place to visit with boutiques aplenty, some owned and operated by the major brands; high-end mega-stores like Bucherer; and smaller independent retailers like Chronopassion and Dubail. Gary took a quick weekend trip to Paris and while there he took the opportunity to pack in as much fun as possible. Come along and bienvenue!

Rolex boutique in Place Vendome

The Horological History Of Place Vendôme, Paris

The grandeur of Place Vendôme is hard to match, and to say that about a location in a city like Paris is quite a statement. Follow Martin Green’s tour of the horological history of the square and discover what makes this Place so special.