I had booked my flight from Erbil (or so I thought) a few weeks ago. When it came time to sadly leave Iraq, I departed my guesthouse in Erbil and arrived at the airport. The first security check involved lines of cars stacked up as three cars in each lane were checked by guards at one time. Passengers opened all of their doors and trunks, dogs were involved, sniffing the tires and inside of each car and each person in each vehicle was subjected … [Read more...]
Exploring the Midwest of the United States of America
I stopped in Chicago, one of my favorite food and wine towns in the entire country. I enjoyed some exceptional wine and food at the Greek Restaurant Avli on the Park on top of a tall building just up from the waterfront. I headed south that evening, arriving in South Chicago. It was very dark. I arrived on a street filled with people running around, yelling, drinking and cars double parked. I felt out of my element. My desired space for the night … [Read more...]
Isla Grande, Colombia – the Island of Total Tranquility
A friend and I discovered a sign indicating 'restaurant' near our eco lodge, a metal shack located behind the owners home. An elderly woman who we call grandmum lives there with her husband and her son. She is a wiry and energetic woman who is always happy to see us; for some reason, there are never any other guests. Sometimes her dog Lola comes running out; she recently suffered an injury, a nasty claw mark down her back resulting from a fight … [Read more...]
Getaway Trip, Sonesta Redondo Beach
Needing a break from wine work and with Los Angeles always a relaxing and therapeutic relatively short drive away (with no traffic), I scheduled a mid week getaway to Sonesta Redondo Beach. This beachside resort is within about a 20 minute drive from LAX. And for those wanting to enjoy Southern California's mild year-round coastal climate and its 'fit' lifestyle, the resort is conveniently located across from the Strand, a bike and pedestrian … [Read more...]
Set me Free, Koh Tao Island, Thailand
One of Thailand's more beautiful islands is located about 1:15 minutes from the pier in Chumphon by water taxi. This is the shortest distance from the mainland although ferries also run from Surathani, further to the south. All tickets can be purchased online. This island offers an ideal balance between tourist infrastructure and natural beauty. Normally Koh Tao would be crowded with both Thai tourists as well those visiting primarily from … [Read more...]
Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage with Holland America: Helicopter Ride + Dog Mushing on Norris Glacier, Juneau
Arguably this experience is one of the most memorable on shore excursions offered by Holland America on a visit to Alaska's Inside Passage. I always gravitate towards unique experiences and this one is truly special, featuring stunning visuals of the mountainous interior from a helicopter including the Juneau Icefield, a landing directly on a glacier and dog mushing, all in the same afternoon. Northstar Helicopters (founded 1998) is located … [Read more...]
A Most Memorable Experience: Swimming with Pigs in the Bahamas
One of the activities synonymous with visiting the Bahamas is swimming with pigs. I have long heard about this, especially during multiple trips to the Bahamas over the past several years. Prior to our latest trip to the Bahamas, the closest I've ever come to swimming with pigs was wading with swimming pigs in the remote Tuamotu Islands in French Polynesia. So, when I was invited by EMBRACE Resort in remote Staniel Cay in the Exumas to join … [Read more...]
Reaching Paradise, EMBRACE Resort Staniel Cay Bahamas
Dodging clouds, discovering sunshine in between and finding inspiration below I found myself on a tiny 12-seat prop plane on my way from Nassau to Staniel Cay (note that 'cay' is always pronounced as 'key') in the Bahamas. The captain briefly announced our flight plan; 28 minutes to Black Point Cay to drop off a few passengers and then a quick 5-minute flight from there to Staniel Cay. There are not many passengers on board; these planes are … [Read more...]
Looking for Gold in Santa Fe de Antioquia, Colombia
My first introduction to gold mining in Colombia was through stories told years ago by a friend of the family. His father had been mining in the country sometime in the 1920s and hit it rich. He brought the gold back with him to the states by ship. But partway into his journey he began to suffer from yellow fever and probably malaria which left him delirious. His findings were stolen from him on the ship, leaving only a few nuggets in his … [Read more...]
A Night in Florida to Remember, But for All the Wrong Reasons
I was super excited; I was flying back to Florida from Medellin, my first time in the U.S. in nearly 3 months. I had booked my hotel several weeks before, remembering the sticker shock of the price for one night, as compared to the cheap living I had experienced in Colombia. I arrived at the Fort Lauderdale airport, one of my favorite smaller airports to arrive into after an international flight. No one was at customs, the agent asked me what my … [Read more...]
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