Dear Matt: When we went to the desert once, there was a ranger who told us that there were lots of things that could live there, even though it mostly looked like rocks and sand. …
July 14, 2010
Go Abroad!
Life on Earth, Mecca's Direction
Liquid Gold in Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest may be the annual climax of Germany’s love of hops, hefs and everything in between, but Münchers worship their golden beers year-round. Begin your journey at Hofbräuhaus (Platzl 8), the unofficial headquarters of Munich …
July 10, 2010
Tour de France Issue
My guess: You don’t live the life Lance Armstrong has unless you have a godly amount of will power, self control, pride, and the ability to hold a grudge. Last year Armstrong was dissed by …
July 7, 2010
Cinque Terre, Italy
Nestled along a rugged stretch of Mediterranean coastline, Cinque Terre is a collection of five towns overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The towns are linked together by a train that runs often, transporting you quickly from …
Culinary Adventure in Luján, Argentina
When Pablo told me to go to Luján with him, I was not excited – and sadly mistaken. I expected a desiccated religious tour, not a culinary adventure into the heart of Argentine cuisine. My …
June 26, 2010
Doing Europe: Prague, Czech Republic
In the summer of 2000, I packed up my trusty backpack and guitar and bought a one-way ticket to Europe with my travel buddy, Jesse. We spent our first leg of our European tour in …
June 22, 2010
Japan: Word to the Wise
I’ve been sitting at my desk for three days, trying to effectively capture the feeling of what it‘s like to stand in the middle of the Tokyo train station after 12 hours of ass cramps …
Bargaining in Cairo
"For you," the merchant murmured, "three hundred Egyptian pounds." I guffawed. Three hundred pounds? For a little wooden lute? I wanted the rababah, to hang on my wall back home, but I wasn't about to …
Chiang Mai: Northern Thailand
It’s been a whirlwind of emotions coming back to Chiang Mai. I can't believe I lived here for so long and made this place my home only 3 years ago. We immediately rented a motorbike …
June 3, 2010
Lesotho, Africa
There's a hole in the map of South Africa. That hole is a separate little country, Lesotho, which is where I was riding a horse when it started to hail. As I lowered my head, …
June 1, 2010
Doing Europe: Amsterdam
I hear or read a lot of stories of people who “did Italy in two weeks” or “saw France in a week.” I understand Americans just can't get up and live in another country, and …
May 27, 2010
Wimbledon, England: Tennis, Queues and Weather
The most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon also has the richest tradition. The unique grass courts add a certain mystique. Having watched it on TV for years, I always wondered what a visit …
May 24, 2010
Meteora, Greece: Monasteries in the Sky
Greece is most often characterized by its idyllic beaches and ancient ruins, which are fantastic and not to be missed. However, on my second trip to Greece we stayed with a friend who showed us …
May 19, 2010
Enchanted Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Four days, two nights spent boating through majestic Halong Bay is like a dream. Turquoise blue water and giant, dragon-shaped cliff islands covered by jungle forests simply equals magical. There are a million different tour …
May 16, 2010
Sevilla, Spain: A Celebratory Day To Remember...Maybe
I woke up on Monday, April 8, 1996, from my daily siesta in Sevilla, Spain, to my host father, Paco, telling me the police just called looking for me and George, my New Jersian housemate. …
May 8, 2010