A most convivial convergence exists in the northeastern corner of Georgia; the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Chattahoochee National Forest and the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail. In this region, mountains meet lakes, ruggedness meets charm, and quaintness meets culture. I have picked eight favorite amazing towns (here in alphabetical order), which I hope to be visiting again and again. BLAIRSVILLE is an easily affordable place to … [Read more...]
Misadventures of a Gringo in Colombia
Upon leaving the unexpectedly small Cartagena airport, I was welcomed by a huge billboard featuring a Colombian Elvis impersonator. The other passengers who had also just arrived were poppin’ into little yellow micro-machine cabs and spinning off into their own assorted narratives. I stood and watched their numbers dwindle. Soon I was one of only a few prey left for the desperate transportation peddlers. A husky, determined Colombian man … [Read more...]
On Christmas Decorations and Syrian Food
The air was unusually clear for Cairo, a city notorious for its polluted, hazy skies. Perhaps it was only because it was my first time seeing all the Christmas decorations set up for the bazaar that it felt like a crisp winter day. The bazaar was an opportunity for refugee women to showcase their skills and talents. Many of them were selling handicrafts, and others were dishing up food from their home countries. The smells mingled throughout … [Read more...]
5 Most Amazing Casinos in the World
There are two places in the world that claim the honor for hosting the most amazing casinos in the world; Las Vegas and Macau. Both are exclusive gambling destinations for tourists and compete in glamour and extravaganza. Casinos these days are not standalone structures, they are part of huge resorts that offer a myriad of services. While Macau attracts with designs and constructions of disproportionate size, Las Vegas invites to celebrity … [Read more...]
Cheesecake in the Vineyard
To say food inspired me on a trip to Italy sounds trite and a little too rehearsed. After all, there are lots of people who have been inspired by Italian food. Right? I’m telling you...this was different. Maybe it was because this was our first trip to Italy. Or, maybe it was because it was before GPS, and we had to rely on maps, road signs, and our basic sense of direction to get to our food. Some meals were more of an adventure than … [Read more...]
25 Reasons to Visit Petoskey Michigan
For people who are lucky enough to live on a coast, maybe Northern Michigan doesn't have the same appeal as it does for those of us who live in the Midwest. There may not be any direct flights, unless you're coming from Detroit, but it is worth the connecting flight. What makes Petoskey, Michigan so special? I'll give you 25 reasons to visit Petoskey Michigan. Petoskey has been known as, "the land of million dollar sunsets," … [Read more...]
Kayaking among the Ghost Ships of Mallows Bay
I never knew kayaking could be so much fun until I tried it. Now I’m hooked and am looking forward to my next excursion, thanks to my enjoyable experience learning about an important era in history while paddling through Mallows Bay on the Potomac River. The 14-square mile area, located in Charles County Maryland, is well within sight of Quantico Marine Base and located in Nanjemoy. My friends warned me that I’d get wet and cautioned against … [Read more...]
Crashing and Burning at Randy’s Rock Rapid on the Wild Colorado
On a rafting trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, there are passages of high drama and excitement around every bend: House Rock Rapid, the Roaring Twenties, Little Colorado River, Crystal, Upset Rapid, Lava Falls. These are all very famous. Every guide on the river knows about them. Another rapid on the booming Colorado is not nearly as well known. You may float serenely past it without your guide even uttering a word about it, so … [Read more...]
Destination Guide to Uzbekistan
The word Uzbekistan itself carries an air of mystery about it. When I told people I was traveling to Uzbekistan, they exclaimed "Uzbekiwhere?!" and then followed that up by "Is it safe?!" Uzbekistan IS bordered by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, countries that are not very well known in the West. So I suppose the "safe" question was fair enough! I'm here to give you the 411 on this destination and hopefully … [Read more...]
How to Survive a Trip to the Top of Yosemite’s Half Dome
The plastic water bottle skidded off the granite and disappeared. It wasn’t the sound the bottle made that disturbed me. It was the silence that followed its rapid disappearance. Along with twenty to twenty-five other people I was perched on the east face of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, the world-famous granite slab that John Muir called “the most beautiful and most sublime of all the wonderful Yosemite rocks.” We were climbing the … [Read more...]
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