“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” -Bilbo Baggins, Fellowship of the Ring I never wanted to go backpacking. I had no interest in staying in hostels. An introvert by nature, I found the peace and privacy of a hotel room necessary, not only for the enjoyment of the trip, but for my mental sanity. Then the cheapskate … [Read more...]
Life in Bogotá: 12 things you’ll soon discover
1. Queuing for a bus is rare On the TransMilenio bus system in Bogota, it’s every man for himself; unlike London buses, on most TransMilenio buses there aren’t specific doors for people getting on or getting off (although these are being introduced on certain routes, thank God!), so as the doors open at the station it’s like two opposing armies clashing as each side struggles to board or disembark. If you wait for people to get off before you … [Read more...]
My Puerto Vallarta Taco Adventure
Mexico is many things, but it’s the gastronomic riches that keep pulling me back. This is the land of complex mole, slow-roasted cochinita pibil and simmering pozole, to name just a few of the traditional dishes that I dream of. I recently returned to this country to vacation in Puerto Vallarta. It is a classic Pacific coast resort town, but it’s also a thriving, vibrant and muy auténtico city. As tempting as the sun, sand and surf are, get off … [Read more...]
Cyclepaths in Cuba
My father, usually a quiet man, burst through the door and hustled the family in front of the television set. He said we were on the verge of something terrible and we needed to see and understand. It was October 22, 1962. My father, a career officer at the C.I.A., seemed distressed with things he knew that others did not. We then watched in horror as John Kennedy described the Russian missiles west of Havana, capable of reaching our home in … [Read more...]
The Three Places You Should Visit in Uruguay – as Soon as Possible and Slightly Off Season
I arrived in Uruguay at the very end of a four months backpacking trip. I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was rest, lay in the sun, enjoy the sea breeze, eat nice food and write. My expectations were met and exceeded, and by the time I boarded the first of a number of flights that would take me back to Sardinia, I knew I was in love with the country and would have to go back in the future. Locked between Argentina and … [Read more...]
Exploring the World’s Two Largest Wine Caves & Wine Collections, Moldova
I first read about Moldova's ancient winery history several years ago in an inflight magazine while jetting over the skies of Finland somewhere. The thousands of years of wine making history certainly appealed to me as well as the fact Moldova is home to the largest underground wineries in the world. While stumbling through the streets of Chisinau after being dropped off by the bus from the airport I spotted a little tourist office called Simgal … [Read more...]
A Few Musings on First Night in Moldova
Sometimes you meet inspiring travelers while on the road - such was the case this evening in Chisinau, Moldova. I met a young woman traveler from Japan who took bought a 50CC motorbike in Irkutsk Russia and rode it some 14,000 kilometers solo from Russia to the Romanian Moldova border. She had stories of her time on the road as a trip of this length will invariably create. She camped much of the time but when it was raining or otherwise bad … [Read more...]
Understanding London – The north/south River Thames divide
London really is a tale of two cities, as there is a clear divide between the northern and southern parts of the Thames. For non-locals, this may seem a bit silly, but for Londoners it does mean more than you’d think! If you’re preparing to visit London, you could do worse than learn some of the major differences so that when people ask you, you’re well informed and ready to come back with a fact or two. If you want to know more about the … [Read more...]
Find the Quiet Side of Venice in Santa Elena
For most visitors, the Venice that they visit is jam-packed with crowds. The city is packed with spectacular sights and is one of the most popular tourist sites in Italy. It is one of my favorite European destinations. The city is wonderful any time of the year so I always schedule my visits for the off-season. Even then, I have been amazed at the number of visitors. Someone recently described Venice to me as a "Disneyland for adults" with … [Read more...]
What is Food like in a Thai Village?
Our property is located next to a tiny village about 2.5 hours east of Bangkok. In recent years there have been plenty of changes here. We now have running water, Internet access and most of the wooden homes in the village have been taken down and many of the villagers have moved nearby into western style buildings (especially as the nearby industrial park continues to experience rapid growth and starts to further exert its influence over this … [Read more...]
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