In Kinmen you don’t have to worry about getting blown up anymore. I kept reminding myself of this as I wandered alone on a deserted beach. It was a sunny day with few clouds. Across …
March 5, 2015
Go Abroad!
Destination: Kinmen
Two roads diverged (in Bulgaria)
If you like your mayonnaise called aioli and your pastries gluten-free, then Bulgaria is probably not the place for you. If you prefer smoothly paved roads and lining up at world-famous museums, then Bulgaria is …
February 20, 2015
Wrong in Playa Flamingo
Never in my life had I imagined myself on a catamaran. Every time I pictured one, I thought of shirtless fraternity brothers and blonde girls in bikinis. I imagined a boozy spring break in Florida. …
February 16, 2015
Journey to ground zero: Hiroshima, Japan
Stepping off the bullet train into a cold Hiroshima morning, we could sense the past. My wife Irene and I became immersed in its history by chance. A journey through New Mexico took us to …
February 3, 2015
Matera: no longer the "shame of Italy"
In what is the instep of Italy’s boot, the first forays into Italy from North Africa came to settle in Matera 10,000 years ago. Living quarters were fashioned in both the limestone caves and built …
January 20, 2015
Bangkok's kitchens
The sounds of a kitchen are like conversations. In the beginning, you hear the fracas of so many people speaking to each other, sometimes over each other. It’s the repartee against the quick pause and …
January 1, 2015
Zagreb under the radar
Overshadowed by beach destinations of the south, Zagreb, Croatia’s inland capital, should not be missed. Like several other European capitals, Zagreb is a blend of nature, culture and the characteristic pace of Europeans. What sets …
December 20, 2014
New Zealand’s otherworldly Tongariro Crossing
I have a mix of fear and respect for volcanoes. They are imposing, difficult to climb, and can erupt with little warning. However, when my husband and I visited New Zealand, our friends strongly recommended …
December 11, 2014
Ringing of the bells: St. Petersburg, Russia
Cemeteries have always fascinated me, and I have visited them all over the world. On a recent trip to Saint Petersburg, Russia, I visited the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Founded in 1710, it contains some of …
Norway on the cheap (it's possible)
I’ll be honest. We visited 131 countries before finally summoning the courage to travel to Norway. No, we weren’t worried about crime, political instability, or unhealthy conditions. In fact, there's almost a complete absence of …
November 18, 2014
Huế down yonder in Vietnam
Stretching before me is an archaeological site straight out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. But this is no studio set; Y Khiêm Viện and Trì Khiêm Viện are the real McCoy. The …
Off the beaten path in Leuven, Belgium
Leuven, Belgium, might look like a small town on a map, but visiting, we found a captivating city filled with students, rich history, and great places to eat and have a locally brewed beer. For …
October 23, 2014
Floating nuns in Kanchanaburi
Thailand is a country full of magical surprises. One of them, located in the Kanchanaburi province, is a temple called Wat Tham Mangkhon Thong. As you enter, you're swallowed by the giant head of a …
October 11, 2014
Not the Israel my parents fought for
What does Miko Peled think of what’s been happening in Gaza? “There’s only one way to describe what’s happening now. It’s a massacre. There is no way to justify it, to excuse it, to paint …
October 8, 2014
Campout in the Sahara
Hassi Labied (population: 2,000) is one of the places you go in Morocco if you want to sleep in the Sahara. It's about 30 miles from the Algerian border; and its dunes (Erg Cheggi) are …
September 29, 2014