After travelling half an hour through wooded mountains and lush valleys, we reached the winery of Santa Catarina in the area of Andratx - located in one of the most beautiful valleys of northwest Mallorca. Nestled in the southern foothills of the Tramuntana Mountains, the winery, part of a larger company (Macia Batle), is a real paradise for those who love fine wine. Wine production has been known for hundreds of years in Mallorca. The … [Read more...]
Underground Tours, Seattle – November 2006
Underground Tours Seattle - Bill Speidel's Seattle Underground Tours are well worth taking advantage of when you are in Seattle. Conveniently located in Seattle's Pioneer Square your guide will lead a humorous tour lasting approximately 90 minutes through several blocks of subterranean Seattle. Did you know that much of Seattle used to be 10-15 feet lower than where it is now? These tours provide a unique insight into Seattle's downtown life … [Read more...]
The Land of Fire and Ice
I don't know how many times I have flown between Europe and North America and each time, about halfway over the North Atlantic, glanced down on a mysterious and rugged looking island. Big swaths seemed covered in glaciers. But not everything. It looked largely empty, but I could still make out clear imprints of humanity from thirty five thousand feet in the air. Mostly along the coastal lowlands, where the fields had a fresh green color. Just … [Read more...]
The Beach Culture of Buzios, Brazil
Brazil is world renowned for its beaches. With a coastline of 4,578 miles and beautiful weather nearly year-round, it's not surprising that the small town of Buzios near Rio de Janeiro is a phenomenal beachside destination. Buzios sits on a peninsula of twenty-two sparkling beaches where any day of the week you'll see beautiful people basking in the sun at popular spots or relaxing in the tranquil atmosphere at one of the peninsula's more … [Read more...]
Exploring the World as Paying Crew
Unlike chartering which requires experience, and that you start and finish from a charter base, you usually don't need any sailing experience and you have many more choices of where in the world your trip will start. This is exactly what I did during August 2006. I had briefly tried the "paying crew" option in Thailand several years ago, and after having a great experience there, was ready to try it again. Since I would be traveling alone on … [Read more...]
South Africa, Surf and Safari – 2006
Here we are more a traveler than a tourist as we set out on safari changing hotels each night. We follow the Garden Route, the premier tour route preferred by locals. I (Adventures for Solo Travelers, 770-432-8225, $1824 land) bring in a way-cool group of 45 singles which includes a fighter pilot, 2 physicians, 2 psychoanalysts (who came in handy for me), mother/daughter, father/son, the uncle of Julia Roberts and one of my favorite clients whose … [Read more...]
Traveling to Cambodia
Despite being called a weirdo and hearing them tell scary travel stories about Cambodia - without packing much, I was soon boarding the second hand budget flight on the way to Cambodia, a world so much different from where I now live! The flight was about three hours from Kuala Lumpur. I felt so bored with my seatmate who was carrying a SONY recording video and talked to herself, as if she was a guide on a travel channel and was going to film … [Read more...]
Crater Lake, Oregon – October 2006
Crater Lake Oregon - This stunning lake located in Southern Oregon is the 2nd deepest lake in North America, and is the 7th deepest in the world. It is self contained within the walls of a steep caldera and as a result there is no inlet or outlet. Excellent photography is available at the crater rim. Over 500 inches of snow falls in an average season so there is snow at the rim often until mid to late summer. Known for its spectacular blue … [Read more...]
Lapland Polar Dreams -January Site Inspection
My love affair with Finland began the moment I stepped off the Finnair plane. My ancestry is Norwegian and I guess something primal in my Viking genes bonds me in kindred spirit with this unique Nordic land. Having toured over a hundred countries, this is virgin territory for me and what an utterly cool place to visit in January. I've packed enough thermal gear to survive the most brutal blizzards but on arrival in Helsinki today, there is no … [Read more...]
AFS Peaks of Patagonia & Chilean Vineyards
Dramatic landscapes provided us a continual Kodak moment throughout. It is late spring in the region and the weather was cooperative with a lot of sunshine. This however is a land where the unexpected is the norm, so we came prepared for occasional wind and rain. After a rest at the lovely Hotel Neruda and a city tour in Santiago, we flew south to Punta Arenas. There we transferred 2 hours by coach to Puerto Natales at the Patagonia steppe. We … [Read more...]
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