“Get over the [lack of] smiles, the harsh tones of voice, the unemotional stares.” Well maybe I shouldn’t put this in quotes – it’s only been a recurring thought in my head walking around Kiev, …
September 21, 2014
Travel Stories
Finding friendly Ukraine
New York road trip: Manhattan to Cooperstown
New York City comes with enough nicknames that no matter how you spin it, you sound like a cliche. I lived in the city for a brief period post-college and wanted to return to sightsee …
September 18, 2014
Head for the hot springs: Corona's Glen Ivy
Lacking the time or energy for a road trip, but in need of a quick getaway? We found ours last Thursday, getting on the road at 8 a.m. and heading north on I-15 for 70 …
September 11, 2014
Hook to cook: fishing Alabama's Gulf Coast
There’s a place on the Gulf Coast where the ocean sparkles turquoise, white sand sifts through your toes, and the water teems with fish of all types: amberjack, snapper, grouper, triggerfish, mackerel, shark. Alabama’s Gulf …
Berlin in 7 Days or Less
I knew Berlin was a big city, but I never knew how big until I explored it on foot. I had seven days to see the major and not-so-major sites. Since the fall of its …
September 4, 2014
I drank my fill in the Bahamas
The Caribbean and Atlantic islands weren’t the origin of rum – that was created in New England – but they were part of the trade triangle that included African slaves and island molasses. Any thought …
September 2, 2014
Marseille: stay for the soup
Bouillabaisse [bu.ja.bɛːs]. For first timers, getting the correct pronunciation is hard. And it’s even harder to spell it. For first timers, it’s also easier to have a bowl of soup in Shanghai, Japan or even …
August 28, 2014
Liftoff on the Central Coast
We older folks who remember the moon landing or seeing the space shuttle land at Edwards can check one more item off our bucket list – and do it just five hours north of San …
August 19, 2014
Mystical Uxmal
Although less well known than Chichen Itza, Uxmal is often preferred by travelers to the Yucatan. Located in the center-west of the peninsula, Uxmal is about an hour and 15 minute drive from Merida – …
August 15, 2014
Why Ukraine: a salo session in Kiev
I’ve eaten sushi, Italian food, and fruit since I've been here in Kiev so far. In the midst of what I'd characterize as an uneasy peace (mostly) here, I’ve been fiending to figure out what …
August 11, 2014
Halong Bay’s Emerald City
After an hour of downhill and uphill hiking immersed in semi-darkness, we finally emerge out of the bowels of Sung Sot Grotto, or Surprise Cave, into the sunlight, greeted by a sensational surprise: an eye-popping …