The Industrial Revolution ended long ago in the United States but remnants of its impact are still palpable. Once temples of commerce, many cities bustled with sprawling factories, grand theaters, turn of the century office towers, majestic hotels, and regal apartment buildings woven together by pedestrian friendly street grids. Today, much of this ornately designed architecture is demolished or condemned. Over the years, speculative … [Read more...]
Art, Beauty, History, and Cuisine on the English Riviera
Along with my partner, I recently took a short trip down to the English Riviera where I found beauty, history, and the most incredible food! We were lucky with the weather, the sun shone the whole time we were there and the air was warm and balmy, but I imagine this place is almost as scenic when the weather isn’t as accommodating. This part of Devon is best known for Torquay, home of Faulty Towers, but we wanted something a little more off the … [Read more...]
Old Town Vilnius Lithuania – November 2019
It is easy to show up to a city and give it the cursory glances, walking down the main touristy streets and window shopping. However to understand a city, one should explore - visit the off the beaten path allyways and seek out the local hangouts. Old Vilnius has plenty of history and character from its Orthodox churches, to unique neighborhoods, bars and artisan stores. One needs a few days to fully explore this part of town. Highlights … [Read more...]
Casino Nights at Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is one of nature’s great wonders. It has three stunning waterfalls which straddle two nations and attract over 20 million visitors every year. People have gone over the falls in barrels and walked across it on tightropes but most just like to appreciate the views! With so many people arriving each year, it is no surprise the area has plenty of attractions including shopping, restaurants, shows and casinos. If you do enjoy a trip to … [Read more...]
NewAir 15” Built-in 29 Bottle Dual Zone Compressor Wine Fridge
Remarkably after 14 years of visiting wineries up and down the Napa Valley and beyond, I've never owned a wine refrigerator. Rather, all wine acquired for aging has been stored under my parent's house in a dark and cold stable temperature environment. I've never kept more then a few bottles on hand at any one time. When NewAir reached out promoting several of their wine refrigerators, I was simultaneously intrigued and excited. And in … [Read more...]
Exploring Paramaribo, Suriname the Fun Way!
After a nearly 13 hour car + van ride from Georgetown in Guyana which began at 4am and included a 4 hour border crossing (slow ferry a big part of this), I arrived in Paramaribo in the late afternoon. Exhausted after eating only an energy bar I found tucked away in my backpack given to me weeks ago by Jacki Ueng I checked into the Guesthouse Zin & Grand Cafe. For only $23/night it included a private room with AC and use of their pool. I soon … [Read more...]
Fjords of Iceland
Of my 13 trips to Iceland so far, my most memorable one was my first time there, in 2002, when I happened to meet my future wife. At a distant second was our trip in the summer of 2011, when we took a week-long road trip through the West Fjords region, the far northwestern peninsula that juts out into the cold North Atlantic Ocean like a dragon's head on a Viking longboat. It's not necessarily an inaccessible nor difficult drive to get … [Read more...]
Tortola, British Virgin Islands – October 2019
About an hour's ferry ride from Charlotte Amalie is Tortola, an island in the British Virgin Islands. If you make this crossing, bring your passport - you will need it to enter the country (which is a fairly smooth quick process). You disembark in Road Town - a colorful community (largest on the island) originally perched on the edges of the steep hillsides which drop down into the water. However, much of the town is now situated on what was the … [Read more...]
A Little Bit of Malta on my Mind
I proceeded to a tiny room at my hotel in central Valletta, oddly enough having to pass through the restaurant first. Many elderly ladies were absorbed in a riveting game of Bridge and I had to slink past their tables without bumping into them. Finding a balcony I stood overlooking the scenic water and Fort Saint Angelo in the distance while absorbing the smells of the salty water, the warmth of the Mediterranean sunshine and the tantalizing … [Read more...]
Adventure on the River: West Virginia Whitewater
It was July 4th at the New River Gorge in West Virginia. It was dark, and I was on the roof of a truck clinging to the roof rack as we wound through the twisting back roads en route to the edge of the gorge. This had not been the plan. We had ended up loading the truck down with a couple of kegs and as many raft guides as we could fit after the trailer that was supposed to deliver us to the party developed a flat tire. We had unhitched it and … [Read more...]
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