Sometimes a wine-growing region and grape variety combine to produce a wine legend. Think California’s Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon, or Argentina’s Mendoza region and Malbec. Well, there is another wine-growing region and grape variety combination you should know about: Uruguay and Tannat. Tannat is originally from France. It grows in many countries for use as a blending grape, due to its sharp bite.

Thai cuisine is known the world over for its delicious, distinctive flavors. In fact, the phrase “Have you eaten yet?” is a typical friendly greeting among Thais. It’s no surprise, then, that Thailand’s urban capital of Bangkok is known as a foodie paradise, especially when it comes to regional and national cuisine prepared and sold from stalls lining the city streets.

You’ll find Delftware in every Dutch home. The highly sought-after, blue-and-white porcelain is among the world’s finest earthenware, and it’s been the product of one small town in the south of the country since the 16th century. An hour by train from Amsterdam, Delft is the artistic heart of Holland.

Assorted bruises adorned my legs, exhaustion blanketed my body, and my arms were so sore that I questioned whether they could lift my evening mojito and fresh-from-the-ocean tuna sashimi to my lips. Yet, despite these discomforts, I was sporting an enormous grin that just wouldn’t go away. How did I end up in pain and sipping cocktails with a goofy smile plastered across my face?

Runner up of the 2014 Global Retirement Index, Ecuador offers sophisticated historical cities…miles of unspoiled, sun-kissed beaches…fertile farmland…and temperate mountain hideaways…and all of it for pennies on the dollar. You can live well for a fraction of the cost of living back in the U.S. And with Ecuador’s official currency the U.S. dollar, you needn’t worry about complicated currency calculations or exchange risks.

It’s no coincidence that commercials for vacations, resorts, or cruises in North America prominently feature the white sands, clear-blue waters, and laid-back vibe of Caribbean beaches. It is paradise and close to home. Maybe that’s why it’s been a premier vacation destination for decades. But thanks to affordable real estate available throughout the region, you’re not limited to the all-inclusives—it is possible to enjoy the Caribbean lifestyle year-round from your own home.

Sitting at the long table at a lakeside restaurant a few years ago, I took stock of my dinner companions. Two attorneys: one conservative from Florida, and one liberal from California. The female attorney had been a local magistrate and is married to a former county commissioner. The male attorney’s wife was a legal assistant.