travel notes

Take the plunge

Pool activities are a highlight of the Olympics and the run-up to them can be just as exciting. Beijing has a practice run at its surreal aquatic centre, dubbed the ‘Water Cube’, at the FINA Diving World Cup (19-25 Feb). The competition continues at the Australian Swimming Championships (22-29 Mar) and the British trials (31 Mar-5 Apr). And if your swimming isn’t up to Olympic standard, spring’s warmer weather is as good an excuse as any to brush up on your strokes.

the hotspot - Rioja

What to expect
This is wine country – there are more hectares here given over to vineyards than there are people (13,500 to 12,000 respectively). Many of the area’s 400 wineries – which range from quaint underground catacombs to stunning avant-garde pieces of architecture – offer tours that are worth booking in advance.

When to go
The scenery is at its best in early autumn, but you’ll still see the vines in full bloom in spring when the weather is refreshingly clement. Marvel at the amazing views from Bai Gorri vineyard – though the spectacular, glass-walled winery is something of a sight itself. Or stand back and stare at the Ysios Winery’s scalloped roof reflected in the waters of the moat – it looks like a row of barrels.

Get active
Take a cycling tour of the local vineyards; bicycles are easy to hire here.

Don’t leave without trying
Bai Gorri’s Blanco Fermentado en Barrica 2003. In a region where good red wines are ten-a-penny, the white Rioja proves all the white wine critics wrong. Drink it with pintxos (Basque tapas) – especially bacalao (fried salt cod with sun-dried tomatoes in a Romesco Sauce). Tabitha Lasley

Get your motor running

This time last year, Lewis Hamilton made his F1 debut at the first race of the Formula 1 season, the Melbourne Grand Prix. At the time, the McLaren driver clinched third place, making him the first debutant to finish on the podium since Jacques Villeneuve. He has gone on to break all sorts of F1 rookie records since, but stopped short of winning the Championship. On 13 March at Albert Park, all eyes will be on Hamilton to see whether he can beat last year’s victor Kimi Räikkönen. grandprix.com.au

Head outdoors

Pick up some alfresco accessories from Oasis’s new line of holiday-themed homewares available this spring. Look out for the striped garden bolster (above) that unwraps into a beach mat, boldly coloured deckchairs and knotted hammocks that come in on-trend floral cases. oasis-stores.com

Hot essentials

Groom

Prada Man
Put simply, Prada Man’s clean and modern fragrance is infused with amber, geranium, vetiver and bergamot, and is quite possibly the sexiest scent to hit our shelves for some time. Available to buy now. £26.50 BUY ONBOARD

Heat up

Maze, The Cookbook
By Jason Atherton (Quadrille)
Since opening three years ago, Gordon Ramsay-owned London restaurant Maze has picked up a brace of awards for its tapas-portioned delights. Now, head chef Jason Atherton dishes out the secrets behind 30 of his signature recipes. You’ll be whipping up his butter-roasted cod and silk mash in no time. £20

Listen

Madonna
Madonna’s 11th studio album Connextion is rumoured to feature Timbaland, Kanye West, Mika and Justin Timberlake, and is scheduled for release in March.

Slide

Davoser 90 sled
This retro-inspired solid beech sled is the design-savvy ski accessory for this season and is a snip at £59. eurocosm.com

Capture the moment

Disgo Video
Made for the YouTube generation but great for travellers, this pocket-sized camcorder with instant playback and 60-minutes’ worth of memory weighs less than a mobile phone. Best of all, it’ll only set you back £29.95. currys.co.uk

Make a splash

Water babies and aquarium lovers should head straight to Orlando this spring for the opening of Aquatica. Spread over 60 acres, the innovative park boasts 36 water slides and an unimaginable 80,000 square feet of beach and marine life, including some rare species that you’re unlikely to spot elsewhere. The star attraction, though, has got to be the clear slides that run through a huge lagoon filled with dolphins, giving swimmers the slightly surreal sensation of being plunged deep beneath the sea as they descend. aquaticabyseaworld.com

Get inspired

Magnum Photos
In the 60 years since Magnum was founded, its photographers have captured some of the most important events of the 20th century. Now their best work has been brought together in a book of sumptuous, full-page photography. Magnum Photos (Thames and Hudson) is published this March. £8.95

Top 5 chocolatiers with a twist

Chocolatier, Diane Krön, Los Angeles
This highly rich but lowin-sugar chocolate is a favourite in Beverly Hills among the likes of Jennifer Aniston (right) and Naomi Campbell. The decadent truffles are popular but don’t go past the notorious K Sensual line for women, infused with 15 Chinese herbs – a supposed aphrodisiac, they’re guaranteed to leave you wanting, well, more (tel. +1 310 248 2626, dianekronchocolates.com).

Montezuma’s, London
For a relatively guilt-free chocolate experience, head to Montezuma’s. They are passionate about their impact on the environment and use certified organic, Fairtrade chocolate. Try their best-selling chilli chocolate, designed to give you a kick (tel. +44 (0)207 539 9208, montezumas.co.uk).

Burie Chocolatier, Antwerp
The highlight of this family-run business is the over-the-top novelty chocolate models in the store window. Past attractions have included an 800kg chocolate car and 3.5m giraffes. You can even participate in a one-hour workshop, which offers demonstrations to groups of at least 10 people (tel. +32 (0)3232 3688, chobel.be/burie).

J Chocolatier, Washington DC
Precious takes on a new meaning with these truffles decorated with realsterling silver and 24-carat gold. The spring/summer line will include fruit and tea infusions, such as the Passion Truffle, a combination of mango, passion fruit and hibiscus flowers (jchocolatier.com).

Chocolat Michel Cluizel, New York
Fine wine and chocolate is a match made in heaven – or at least it is at this Manhattan bar-come-chocolate haven. As the city’s first fine chocolate vendor to get a full liquor license, it prides itself on pairing the two. (tel. +1 212 477 7335, chocolatmichel cluizel-na.com)

Copenhagen

The to-do list...

Be a hippy for the day
A visit to Christiania, the alternative community founded by militant squatters, remains one of Copenhagen’s most memorable experiences.

Get down with the kids
With its vibrant nightlife, stylish cafés and restaurants, and kitsch vintage shops, the densely packed and ethnically diverse Nørrebro is definitely the hotspot for young, chic Copenhageners.

Shop wildly
Find limited-edition fashion and interior designs at the Designer Zoo (www.dzoo.dk). The store offers two floors of vibrant clothes, furniture, ceramics, glassware and jewellery by locals such as Karsten Lauristen and Annette Dreyer.

Meet the Danes
Inspired by a scheme devoted to entertaining strangers, 1.th (tel. +45 3393 5770) is a unique dining experience where a 10-course menu is served in a local apartment

Be there or be square
Sankt Hans Torv is Copenhagen’s most buzzing square, boasting top club Rust (tel. +45 3524 5200). Dine at fusion restaurant Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus (tel. +45 3524 5300).

Take time to reflect
Located in a picturesque park, the Ordrupgaard (tel. +45 3964 1183) is home to the works of Danish art masters, as well as Renoir and Matisse. Also check out Zaha Hadid’s contemporary glass and stone extension. Based on the Lonely Planet Copenhagen Encounter guide, £6.99

Check out

Calling all wildlife lovers: now is your chance to make a splash as a photographer. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is open to everyone, and there’s a £10,000 prize up for grabs. The deadline is 24 March. nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto