I learned that it takes a few days to warm to Cuba - but when you do, its alluring embrace grabs you with all it has and doesn't let go. The colorfully dressed person in front of me boarded the plane without any shoes and left the plane without any shoes. Never seen that before. Following a very quick wait in customs, I then caught a taxi to Havana for 30 CUC, the Cuban currency (the airport is about 30-45 minutes from the center of the city). … [Read more...]
10 Things I Learned During my Stay in Minsk, Belarus
I recently spent a few days exploring Minsk and the nearby countryside. This city of 2 million+ people is at the same time spread out yet rather compact. The city features an interesting mix of noticeable architectural styles mostly dating from post World War II. Unlike a number of Western European countries, Belarus does not yet seem to be on the tourist route. Prices are fairly reasonable and it is easy to get around the historical core of the … [Read more...]
Exploring the Medieval Village of Viviers with Viking Cruises
One of the many advantages of taking a river cruise in Europe is immediate access to small off the beaten path villages and experiences. This was my second river cruise with Viking - on both cruises I've maintained a balance between participating in the offered group tours and taking time to explore on my own. Today I felt like exploring at my own pace simply letting the day unfold. Walking a dirt path on the way to town, I took delight for … [Read more...]
Arriving Into Iran and the Tests of Traveling
I left for the Tbilisi International Airport in the country of Georgia at 10pm. I arrived at my final destination, Shiraz, Iran some 20 hours later - the next day. If you look on the map this is about a 3 to 3.5 hour flight. As it were, the airport in Tbilisi is under construction; a new runway is being built so all day flights have been moved to the night. I spent all night in the beautiful fairly new Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, … [Read more...]
Essential Smells, Essential Oils, Exploring the Lavender Fields of Provence with Viking Cruises
A highlight of a Viking cruise to Provence is a full-day excursion to the heart of southern France's lavender country. However, plan your trip accordingly - timing is everything when it comes to this aromatic plant. It must be sown at a certain time of year and harvested precisely during dry warm conditions. And for those coming to be inspired by its visual appeal, there is a certain time of year for that as well. The lavender fields hit their … [Read more...]
Enjoying a Diversity of Experiences in Yangon, Myanmar
After landing at the modern airport in Yangon we quickly purchased a sim card with a local phone number. We were told that in the last few years the price of Internet and cell phones have dropped dramatically. One tour guide told us that in the last 10 years mobile phones have gone from costing more then $1000 to now being relatively affordable. Our taxi driver informed us that traffic in Yangon can be intense - horrific at times - traffic … [Read more...]
Wine Tasting in Myanmar
When traveling abroad, I always seek out wineries whenever possible. To some, going wine tasting in Myanmar might be somewhat of a surprise - an anomaly and to an extent it is. However, there are two wineries in the country, (Aythaya Vineyard and Red Mountain Estate) both in the vicinity of Inle Lake. Red Mountain Estate Winery is located on the outskirts of the small town of Nyaungshe. As one arrives, one quickly sees vineyards lining the … [Read more...]
Songkhran, Thai New Years
Historically April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand. Presumably the warmest days are mid month - conveniently this is when Songkran is held every year. For several days one of the world's biggest waterfights takes place throughout the country. Our Songkran began slowly - joining a colorful procession of people parading through a temple grounds. Hawaiian style colorful shirts are the norm during the days of Songkran - the brighter the … [Read more...]
Visiting North Korea (not really)
During a recent visit to Yangon, Myanmar a friend of a friend working in the city informed us about a North Korean restaurant within a 10 minute drive of where we were staying (the Merchant Art Boutique Hotel). My only other experience with North Korea was in Dandong, China. An old military bridge (today called the Friendship Bridge) extends half way across the Yalu River. I was there in the middle of winter and I remember it was extremely … [Read more...]
Sick in Scotland
With the early signs of Spring blossoming this time of year in many parts of the world, I thought I would find at least some signs of the lessening grip of winter that these warmer months bring. I was completely wrong. I arrived in Glasgow and it was gloomy, raining and frigid. I didn't even see the trees starting to push green buds. After I left the bus from the airport I didn't have much energy to look further - summoning the last bit of … [Read more...]
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