If you enjoy a warm, relaxing bath, I know a travel destination that just might appeal to you. Most international visitors to Ecuador are in a hurry to get to either the Galapagos Islands or …
May 31, 2011
Go Abroad!
Baños, Ecuador: A Piece of Heaven
(Mis)Adventures in Colombia and Peru
After finishing my second year of law school in San Diego, I decided that I needed a little adventure in my life. I planned my classes so that all my finals were done by December …
May 31, 2011
Fascinating Romania
I boarded Lufthansa Airlines from LAX with a certain giddiness and anticipation. I was ready for a long flight over the U.S., Canada, Iceland, the Northern Sea and Germany – my final destination being Bucharest …
May 24, 2011
To escape from Sudan, end up in San Diego, and to go back with dreams
When Dep Tuany arrived on a drilling rig in the impoverished Sudanese village of Boriak, hostility lingered thick in the air. The village held roughly 1200 refugees living in grass and wood huts. They had …
May 18, 2011
Walking the Walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia
You’ll never forget walking the walls of Dubrovnik. Put this on your bucket list now! Climb the ancient stairs of this walled city and take your first look at centuries of history. The tile roofs …
May 15, 2011
An English D-Day Remnant: Devon, England
An unlikely memorial to the D-Day invasion lies half-hidden in a narrow wind-ravaged valley among the sand dunes of Braunton Burrows on the north coast of Devon, England. While the remembrance sites in France have …
May 12, 2011
Mayan Ruins in Quirigua, Guatemala
I’m fascinated by the Mayan civilization and its monumental architecture, artwork and culture and have visited ancient Mayan sites throughout Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Some sites are sprawling, and it’s amazing to step back in …
May 12, 2011
Finding Magic: Chapada dos Veadeiros, Brazil
When I was a young San Diego grom, long weekenders meant the following: My dad piled me, my brothers and some friends into our VW van and we camped and surfed in San Clemente. Despite …
May 8, 2011
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
Sun Moon Lake is located in Central Taiwan, about two hours away via bus from Taichung. It’s the largest freshwater body in Taiwan, and boasts some of the most majestic scenery the country has to …
Majestic Prague, Czech Republic
This is an amazing town. It’s an open-air museum best explored on foot; every turn offers an architectural feast for the eyes. I spent a week in Prague and it remains one of the highlights …
April 23, 2011
Historic Toledo, Spain
Escape the busy streets of Madrid for the quiet walkways of Toledo. Forty-five miles away from Madrid, Toledo makes a great day trip for just about any traveler. Transportation is easy, with high-speed trains that …
Bergen, Norway: Gateway to the Fjords
Bergen is located on Norway’s western coast. The journey there from Oslo takes you through a wonderfully scenic part of the country, including some of the longest and most spectacular fjords in Norway. You can …
April 8, 2011
Lima, Cusco and Macchu Pichu
My first trip to Peru was amazing. We spent the first night near Lima, at a friend’s house close to the beach in the La Perla area. We walked to the beach and ate barbecued …
April 8, 2011
Sendai, Japan: The Day the Earth Shook
March 11 was a cold, slow-moving Friday afternoon at our home in Sendai. As a freelance writer and translator, I was making a transition, familiar on such idle afternoons. Having finished a bit of urgent …
April 7, 2011
Beer-lin, Germany
It is truly easier on the streets of Berlin to buy a bottle of beer than one of water. And no matter what time of day it is, you'll observe someone sipping a cold one, …
April 7, 2011