Startling Architecture, Slap Up Seafood – Two New Blogs for From the Grapevine

Since September 2014, World Words’ esteemed content editor Mandy has been regularly contributing blog posts to the Israel-American publication From the Grapevine. You will probably have seen some of her work pop up on this blog before, from this article about amazing vineyard resorts around the world to this profile piece of concert master David Radzynski. You may also have seen new From the Grapevine projects pop up on our portfolio page.

Well, we’re still going strong, and this month we’ve several new articles being published on the site. Two of them, which touch on the diverse topics of unusual residential architecture and amazing global seafood restaurants, are already live, so we’ve included snippets of each below. Scroll down to read the extracts or link to the full articles.

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David Radzynski: A 28-Year-Old Concert Master – A Blog for From the Grapevine

The soaring swell of strings, the mellow call of the French horn, the rhythmic thud of timpani; there is something about orchestral music that resonates deeply with audiences, whether it’s heard live in a concert hall or as the background score during a film screening. In each and every orchestra, a cast of individual virtuosos work in perfect harmony to produce a cohesive, synergistic sound. Yet despite the impressive collaborative nature of these musical ensembles, there is a clear hierarchy at play. There are first chairs or section principals, who act as the main voice or lead for their respective sections. There are assistant principals who play second fiddle. And finally there’s the most high-ranking title of them all – the leader. Or, as it’s known in the US, the concertmaster.

When From the Grapevine approached us to write about David Radzynski, the recently crowned 28-year-old concertmaster of the highly regarded Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, we were delighted. As music lovers, we were excited to share the story of remarkably talented young man and his rapid rise to classical music stardom.

So that’s what we did. You can read our full blog on David Radzynski for From the Grapevine below.

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Five of the World’s Best Long-Distance Trails: A Blog For From the Grapevine

Fresh air and a sense of freedom – there’s nothing quite like exploring on your own two feet. Hiking is a favourite activity for many and we think it’s one of the best – and most fun – ways to get to know a new place. But the long-distance trails we’ve included in our latest travel article for From the Grapevine are not for fair-weather ramblers; these ambitious walking routes are epic feats reserved for the fittest and most dedicated of outdoor enthusiasts.

In our round-up of the world’s greatest hiking trails, we selected five of the most demanding and most spectacular long-distance footpaths across three continents. We included everything from New Zealand’s cinematic Te Araroa Trail to Israel’s diverse National Trail to America’s famous Pacific Crest Trail (setting for recent Reese Witherspoon blockbuster, ‘Wild’). To find out more about the challenges of each route, read an excerpt from our article below…

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A Travel Startup That Helps You Give Back – A Blog for From the Grapevine

Over the past few years, a crop of travel startups, including the likes of Aribnb and TripIt, have transformed the travel industry. They’ve been breaking the mould of what’s gone before with new and innovative ideas, some of which have changed the way we travel.

In our latest article for From the Grapevine, we took a closer look at a brand spanking new travel startup – an exciting New York-based venture called Visit.org. Visit.org is an online marketplace for socially responsible travel activities. The tours they offer are global in scope, covering destinations from the Philippines to Peru, Senegal to Tanzania, and many more besides. Working with nonprofits and community organisations, Visit.org offers a way for tourists and travellers to engage in responsible and ethical tourism. Want to learn more about what they do? Scroll down to read an excerpt from our interview, which features insights from Visit.org co-founder Michal Alter.

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